The history of tekone-zushi

Tekone-zushi is said to have been devised by fishermen of the Shima region of Mie Prefecture.
The waters off Mie are washed by the Kuroshio Current, where bonito and tuna have long been caught in abundance, and the area has had many fishermen since ancient times.

It is said to have begun when fishermen, looking for something they could eat easily on busy boats, chopped bonito into chunks, marinated it in soy sauce, and mixed it with rice, and from this the name "tekone-zushi," meaning sushi kneaded (kone) by hand (te), is said to have arisen.

However, since bonito fishing was carried out only in nearby waters in the old days, it is hard to imagine that meals were taken on the boats, and the more accepted theory is that a shipboard meal celebrating a large catch later remained on land.

In this way, tekone-zushi was at first a simple dish of merely placing fish on top of vinegared rice, but in the early Showa era condiments such as nori began to be placed on top, and by around the 1960s it had come to be known as a representative local dish of the Shima region.

Recommended famous shops for tekone-zushi

In the Ise-Shima region, the birthplace of tekone-zushi, there are many shops where you can eat tekone-zushi.
Among them, we introduce a few famous shops this time. When you visit Ise-Shima, by all means stop by!

Sushikyu

Founded in the first year of Tempo (1831) as a culinary inn, "Sushikyu" stands near the Naiku of Ise Jingu and is a tasteful shop with an elegant Japanese-style atmosphere.
The inn closed after the war, but since restarting as a restaurant in 1989 it has been a popular shop always overflowing with people.
Its popular menu item is the "tekone-zushi (Ume 1,310 yen, Take 1,930 yen, Matsu 2,600 yen)," made with careful preparation and an original marinade tare.

Address: Okage Yokocho, 20 Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/AKtFpbAcT63r3bMS8
Hours: 10:30-19:30 (L.O. 19:00)
Closed: Open year-round (however, closed Tuesday evenings and the evenings of the 1st and last day of each month)
Average budget: 1,000 yen-3,000 yen
Website: https://okageyokocho.com/main/tenpo/sushikyu/
*Please confirm the latest information on hours and prices in advance.

Ebimaru

"Ebimaru" is also a shop within Okage Yokocho, marked by a sign modeled on a basket used in spiny lobster fishing.
It is a shop that serves Ise-otoko (Isebito) cuisine, where you can enjoy "tekone-zushi (1,600 yen)" made with tuna or seasonal fish.
There are also "today's seafood bowl (2,200 yen)" and the "Ebimaru set (3,570 yen)."

Address: Okage Yokocho, 52 Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/AKtFpbAcT63r3bMS8
Hours: 11:00-closing (Sat, Sun, holidays from 10:00) *varies by season
Closed: Open year-round (however, closed Tuesday evenings and the evenings of the 1st and last day of each month)
Average budget: 1,500 yen-4,000 yen
Website: https://okageyokocho.com/main/tenpo/ebimaru/
*Please confirm the latest information on hours and prices in advance.

Toramaru

Toramaru, located in Kawasaki, 10 minutes from Iseshi Station, is a popular izakaya that was also listed in the "Michelin Guide Aichi, Gifu, Mie 2019."
The prices are a little high, but it is a shop visited by people who want to eat truly delicious food in Ise. The interior, renovated from an old storehouse, is stylish and chic. Snacking on Ise's delicious seafood and finishing with tekone-zushi could be called the ultimate luxury.

Address: 2-13-6 Kawasaki, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/KjCNR1SZA3U4bcsy9
Hours: 17:00-22:00 *ends once ingredients run out
Closed: Tuesday *closed when good fish cannot be obtained
Average budget: 6,000 yen-10,000 yen
*Please confirm the latest information on hours and prices in advance.

Noasobi-dana

"Noasobi-dana" is a shop located at the edge of Okage Yokocho, along the Isuzu River. Its classic exterior is highly impressive, and with its many windows you can enjoy an elegant meal while looking at the seasonal scenery outside. The main menu items are relatively reasonably priced, including the tekone-zushi and Ise udon set (1,480 yen), as well as the Matsusaka beef yakiniku bowl (1,530 yen) and the takikomi rice set (1,050 yen).

Address: 1-11-5 Ujiurata, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/eDtiEZv1pmHrpGv47
Hours: 11:00-closing (Sat, Sun, holidays from 10:30; on the 1st of the month from 5:00) *varies by season
Closed: Open year-round
Average budget: 1,000 yen-2,000 yen
Website: https://okageyokocho.com/main/tenpo/noasobi/
*Please confirm the latest information on hours and prices in advance.

Tekone-zushi is simple but deeply flavorful!

Among the many kinds of tekone-zushi across the country, the local dish of the Shima region in particular is a traditional delicacy. Precisely because it is simple, you could say it lets you fully savor the bounty of the sea.
Its distinctive flavor is sure to captivate you once you taste it, so when you visit the Ise-Shima region, by all means give it a try.