About
When you step off at Kazamatsuri Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, you are greeted by “Suzuhiro Kamaboko Village,” a place where tradition and innovation are alive. At its center stands the “Kamaboko Museum,” a building that harmoniously blends white walls with the warmth of wood, gently welcoming all who visit.
Upon entering the museum, the history and culture of kamaboko speak to you through the passage of time. In the exhibition room, the evolution of kamaboko from the Heian period onward is introduced alongside ancient documents and tools. The anecdote that kamaboko got its name because the shape of fish paste wrapped around a bamboo stick and grilled resembled the head of a cattail plant sparks the imagination of visitors.
In the workshop visible through glass, skilled artisans, with serious expressions, craft kamaboko. Their hand movements are almost like a dance, and watching the fish paste transform into a smooth white loaf is truly an art form. Visitors watch, breathless, captivated by their technique.
In the hands-on classroom, you can try making kamaboko and chikuwa yourself. Under the guidance of artisans, spreading fish paste onto a board seems simple but is surprisingly profound. Steaming the kamaboko you made yourself and tasting it fresh brings a unique joy.
Upstairs on the second floor, a gallery displays art works using kamaboko boards as canvases. These pieces, created by artists from Japan and abroad, show that the everyday material of a kamaboko board holds infinite creative potential. The colorful paintings and sculptures enrich the hearts of all who visit.
Upon leaving the museum, you’ll find restaurants on the grounds serving dishes made with plenty of local ingredients, as well as cafes where you can enjoy sweets made with kamaboko. Especially notable is “CAFE107,” which uses a retired Hakone Tozan Railway train car; here, history and modernity blend, and you can savor special kamaboko pintxos and local craft beer.
In the shop, a wide variety of products are offered, from traditional ita-kamaboko to adorable kamaboko created in collaboration with Tomica and Licca-chan. The “Purikama,” which allows you to print your own drawings or messages onto kamaboko, is popular as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
Visiting this place, you realize that kamaboko is not just a food, but something filled with the region’s history, culture, and people’s passion. Suzuhiro Kamaboko Village is a special place where you can experience the story woven by tradition and innovation with all five senses.