Unagipie: Hamamatsu’s Iconic “Eel” Snack

Unagipie is famous in Shizuoka and throughout the Tōkai region.

The Unagipie factory attracts visitors on weekdays and weekends alike.

Guide Takyō Yūya poses next to giant reproductions of Unagipie and other popular Shunkadō products.

Lake Hamana is a brackish lagoon famous for farmed eel.

In a playful take on the Japanese phrase unagi nobori, meaning a rapid growth or rise, eels support the banister on the stairs at the Unagipie factory, but only those that are ascending.

Early Unagipie prototypes include a skewered version, left, and a pastry with a segment mimicking an eel’s head. However, these broke easily and were abandoned as impractical.

Unagipie’s “the ideal evening snack” catch copy was a surefire conversation starter.

The product’s creator envisioned a family enjoying snacking on Unagipie in the evening.

An early poster humorously takes advantage of the racy meaning attributed to the product’s catch copy.

Illustrations cover the windows overlooking the factory floor where the dough is made to keep the process a secret.

Robot arms carefully apply sauce to finish the product.

At the final stage, products are visually inspected. Broken or misshapen pastries are bagged and sold at discount prices.

Windows on the second floor give a view of the product wrapping line in action.

Unagipie VSOP comes in luxurious gold wrapping.

Sweet treats: Unagipie gelato, left, and Unagipie VSOP English Tea Parfait.

The factory’s store carries a variety of sister products.