Japan, surrounded by the ocean, is a treasure trove of fresh seafood such as tuna, sea bream, and horse mackerel. One of the great pleasures of traveling is visiting different regions and enjoying seafood bowls at market cafeterias or seafood dishes at local restaurants. Here, we introduce spots where you can savor delicious seafood gourmet food.
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The charm of morning markets lies in their offering of fresh, delicious local fish at reasonable prices, such as seafood bowls and set meals. It’s also a great way to engage with locals and experience the local food culture, making morning markets a popular tourist spot. Since markets typically close by noon, it’s worth the effort to wake up early.
Dining at a local restaurant that knows everything about the local fish is one of the highlights of traveling. You can also enjoy a more luxurious seafood experience at a traditional Japanese restaurant. Izakaya, where you can feel like a local, and Italian or French cuisine focusing on locally sourced ingredients, are also appealing. Recently, more fish markets have been adding eat-in corners, offering fresh seafood on the spot.
One of the unique pleasures of traveling in Japan is tasting a variety of local seafood, thanks to the country's abundance of fresh seafood and river fish. While enjoying freshly caught fish in a fishing village is a delight, there are also preserved fish dishes, such as "Mackerel Heshiko" from Fukui Prefecture, a fermented food made from salted mackerel pickled in rice bran, and "Ikanago no Kugini" from Hyogo Prefecture, which is braised sand lance. These inland specialties are equally exquisite. Take the opportunity to try local fish dishes from around Japan and learn about each region's history and culture.
The charm of morning markets lies in their offering of fresh, delicious local fish at reasonable prices, such as seafood bowls and set meals. It’s also a great way to engage with locals and experience the local food culture, making morning markets a popular tourist spot. Since markets typically close by noon, it’s worth the effort to wake up early.
Dining at a local restaurant that knows everything about the local fish is one of the highlights of traveling. You can also enjoy a more luxurious seafood experience at a traditional Japanese restaurant. Izakaya, where you can feel like a local, and Italian or French cuisine focusing on locally sourced ingredients, are also appealing. Recently, more fish markets have been adding eat-in corners, offering fresh seafood on the spot.
One of the unique pleasures of traveling in Japan is tasting a variety of local seafood, thanks to the country's abundance of fresh seafood and river fish. While enjoying freshly caught fish in a fishing village is a delight, there are also preserved fish dishes, such as "Mackerel Heshiko" from Fukui Prefecture, a fermented food made from salted mackerel pickled in rice bran, and "Ikanago no Kugini" from Hyogo Prefecture, which is braised sand lance. These inland specialties are equally exquisite. Take the opportunity to try local fish dishes from around Japan and learn about each region's history and culture.
If you want to enjoy freshly caught seafood, a restaurant at the fish market is a must. Breakfast is especially popular. Frequented by people working at fishing ports and markets, these spots offer hearty seafood bowls and set meals at reasonable prices. Some of the most popular markets among tourists include Hakodate Morning Market, Otaru Triangle Market, Odawara Fish Center, Sakata Seafood Market, Fukui Nihonkai Fish Town, Oarai Seafood Market, and Tsukiji Outer Market. Enjoy the lively atmosphere while filling your stomach with delicious seafood.
Kouchi
Heartwarming Cuisine Made With Ingredients From Sakawa Town, Kochi
"Nishimura Shoten", a popular restaurant serving fresh seafood, has opened at "Makino-san Roadside Station Sagawa". The restaurant has a wide range of menu items, including sashimi, sushi, and seafood bowls. It also offers meat dishes, fried foods, and stir-fries, making the restaurant popular with guests of all ages. Generously portioned set meals are also well-loved, and the reasonably priced take-out options add to the appeal. The warm, wood-accented interior creates a relaxing atmosphere, and group reservations are also accepted.
Tokyo
We Offer Only the Best Ingredients Selected by the Middleman's Landlady
A long - established sushi restaurant that continues from Tsukiji Market, located on the 3rd floor of Toyosu Market's Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Building. With the motto of "Freshness First," the proprietress serves carefully selected seasonal seafood that remains fresh. The restaurant is so popular that even after its relocation, regular customers continue to visit it.
Hokkaido
Custom Seafood Bowls for a Truly Indulgent Experience
"Japanese Eatery Donburiya" is an eatery where you can enjoy seafood bowls, conveniently located approximately one minute on foot from JR Hakodate Station. As a seafood wholesaler, it handles high-quality, fresh seafood, and you can freely choose your favorite seafood, including the recommended sea urchin and abalone, as well as tuna, squid, salmon roe, and more, and enjoy a lavishly presented seafood bowl made just for you. What's more, the reasonable prices are also attractive, and it is a popular gourmet spot for locals and visitors to Hakodate who want to enjoy seafood every day. It is close to the station and has a wide variety of seafood souvenirs, so why not stop by during a break from sightseeing?
Nagasaki
Fresh Sasebo Seafood Straight From the Catch
"Kaisen Ajidokoro Ryo" is located a 3-minute drive from the Ainoura Nakazato Interchange on the Nishi Kyushu Expressway and a 5-minute walk from Matsuura Tetsudo Daigaku Station. Operated directly by a fishery company in Sasebo City, Nagasaki, engaged in purse seine fishing, aquaculture, and processing, this restaurant draws a steady mix of local regulars and visitors from inside and outside the prefecture, with lines forming at lunchtime. The menu centers on seafood sourced through its own operations, including the signature "Seafood Bowl Set Meal" and "Daily Set Meal", limited to 20 servings per day. In the evening, a variety of dishes and courses are available for individuals, families, and groups, with a children's menu and luxurious dishes including spiny lobster and tiger pufferfish.
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If you want to casually enjoy local fish with some drinks, we recommend visiting a local izakaya. It’s the perfect place to have fun with friends. You can savor a variety of dishes such as shuto and shiokara (traditional sake accompaniments), local fish, transparent squid sashimi, grilled crab shell, and seafood bowls topped with generous amounts of salmon roe and sea urchin. Asking the staff or local patrons for recommendations on regional seafood specialties will make your trip even more memorable.
Hokkaido
Known for Its Seafood and Smoky Charcoal-Grilled Specialties
The restaurant offers dishes that go well with alcohol, using seasonal ingredients, such as charcoal-grilled fish and meat, sashimi, and hearty, fatty "Hokke no Hiraki (Atka mackerel)", rare "Tako Tonbi" (octopus beak meat) ,and charcoal-grilled "Tachi (Pacific cod milt)". The menu changes depending on the season, so you'll want to come back again and again.
Tokyo
Savor the Flavors of Tosa at Shinjuku East Exit with Straw-Grilled Delicacies
Located just a 2-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, this restaurant specializes in bold straw-grilled dishes. Experience the rich flavors of Kochi Prefecture’s sea, mountains, and rivers, with the highlight being the straw-roasted Tosa Hachikin Jidori chicken, prized for its intense flavor and premium fat. The menu includes fresh seafood like sardines, horse mackerel, mackerel, kibinago (silver-stripe round herring from Sukumo Bay), and dorome (young sardines), a rare local delicacy. Inspired by the Shimanto River, the serene interior features diverse seating options. Enjoy sunken kotatsu seats with the calming sound of a flowing river, private rooms for two, or larger spaces ideal for group gatherings, making it suitable for any occasion.
Ishikawa
A Quaint Izakaya Where You Can Enjoy Seasonal Ingredients from Hokuriku
An izakaya with a modern brick exterior, located in a prime spot about a 5‑minute walk from the Kenrokuen exit of JR Kanazawa Station. Nestled in a quiet alley, this hidden gem is popular with both locals and tourists. Seafood is sourced from Omicho Market, where seasonal ingredients from Hokuriku are gathered, and the restaurant insists on using only natural seafood. Driven by the president's conviction that while expensive and delicious food is expected, offering affordable yet equally delicious options is essential, high‑quality ingredients are served at a reasonable price. Notably, "Hachimaru's" specialty, Nodoguro (Akamutsu), is renowned for its generous size and affordable price. Savor your meal in an ambiance that evokes the charm of old Kanazawa.
Ehime
A Japanese Restaurant Where You Can Enjoy Delicious Fresh Seasonal Seafood
A Japanese cuisine restaurant with over 30 years of history, located about a 2-minute walk from Yawatahama Shinmachi Shopping District. Fresh seasonal seafood, sourced directly from Yawatahama Fish Market—one of the largest in western Japan—is expertly prepared to highlight its natural flavors. The cooking method varies depending on the type of fish and the season, ensuring the best possible taste. The drink selection includes sake from "Chiyo no Kame Sake Brewery" in Ehime, along with shochu, beer, and wine. The restaurant features both counter seating and private tatami rooms with sunken kotatsu-style seating, making it an excellent choice for intimate gatherings. Catering for celebrations and memorial services is also available upon request, with options tailored to different budgets.
Search for Pubs Where You Can Eat Gourmet Seafood by Area
Many people travel in search of seasonal seafood that can only be enjoyed at specific times and places, such as spiny lobster, pufferfish, grouper, and monkfish. If you want to savor top-quality seafood in a relaxed atmosphere, a traditional Japanese restaurant is the perfect choice. You’ll feel fulfilled as you indulge in the dishes prepared by chefs who are experts in local ingredients. Staying at a gourmet ryokan allows you to enjoy a luxurious experience, falling asleep right after a sumptuous meal.
Ishikawa
A Heartfelt Japanese Hideaway in Komatsu
This Japanese restaurant in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, primarily uses seasonal ingredients from the local area and the Hokuriku region. It serves dishes that are carefully selected for their freshness and seasonality. The tableware and setting incorporate traditional crafts from Ishikawa, and together with the food, you can immerse yourself in the "art of Japan" with all five senses. The restaurant's interior, built in the sukiya style, makes the most of the elegant building, creating a slightly more formal and sophisticated atmosphere than usual. The restaurant is renowned for its hospitality that caters to a wide range of generations. It also has a private annex, making it an ideal place to celebrate milestones in life, such as the first meal, a meeting between family members, or a longevity celebration. Many events are also held to promote the merits of Japanese cuisine to the younger generation.
Yamagata
Artfully Crafted Dishes Showcasing Yamagata Produce
"Souen Shingetsu" is located approximately a 12-minute walk from JR Sakuranbo Higashine Station. The owner, a Japanese chef, draws on over 25 years of experience to serve colorful, creative dishes that generously feature local vegetables and ingredients from Yamagata Prefecture. The restaurant is renowned for its meticulously crafted dishes, which seamlessly combine beautiful visuals with unexpected flavors. The spacious dining room seats approximately 81 guests and includes private rooms, allowing flexible use for everything from casual meals to anniversaries and banquets, depending on group size and occasion. The restaurant is often lively during the daytime and draws after-work diners and groups in the evening, making reservations recommended.
Saitama
A Historic Restaurant Established in 1927
Enjoy a kaiseki meal while overlooking a beautiful garden centred around a 100-year-old cherry tree, featuring traditional culinary techniques. Spend a special time in a high-quality Japanese space that is also used as a filming location for movies and dramas.
Tokyo
Proudly Serving Eel "Prepared With the Utmost Care in Japan"
Located near Kabukiza Tower, this long-established Japanese restaurant boasts a history of approximately 150 years. It is renowned as a discreet destination for celebrities from the world of kabuki and beyond. Selected in the "Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024", the restaurant’s eel, prepared with traditional flavours and meticulous care, is a masterpiece passed down through generations. Upholding the belief of being "Prepared With the Utmost Care in Japan," no compromises are made across the seven stages of preparation, from selecting ingredients to the final grilling. Preparing a single eel, including the removal of fine bones, takes approximately two hours. With a dedication to excellence in ingredients, culinary technique, tableware, and atmosphere, the establishment offers an experience akin to visiting a small museum where both food and artistry can be savoured.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Gourmet Seafood by Area
When thinking of seafood, Japanese cuisine may come to mind, but fresh seafood is also a key ingredient in French and Italian dishes. For example, seafood pasta, bouillabaisse, and poached fish all rely on fresh ingredients. Oysters, spiny lobster, and abalone are often used in French and Italian cuisine as well. For a romantic date or a special family trip, consider visiting an Italian or French restaurant to enjoy these gourmet seafood dishes.
Yamanashi
Enjoy Teppanyaki Cuisine in a Luxurious Space
Teppanyaki restaurant in Kofu City, Yamanashi. In a luxurious setting, enjoy exquisite locally sourced dishes, including "Koshu Beef," premium Japanese Black Wagyu. A must-try is the "100% Japanese Black Wagyu Rare Hamburger." The outside is grilled to a crisp, while the inside remains rare and juicy, offering a rich umami flavor with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. For steaks, carefully selected rare cuts of A4 and A5 grade Japanese Black Wagyu are used, enhanced by a flavorful sauce made with plenty of Kujo green onions. The restaurant also offers an excellent selection of alcoholic beverages, including handpicked Koshu wine from Yamanashi and "Hakushu" whiskey, both perfectly paired with meat dishes. A wide variety of local wines is also available on tap.
Hiroshima
Enjoy Hiroshima's Delicacies in an Open Seat Overlooking the Seto Inland Sea
ZONA FORTUNATO is located in Sunami Seaside Park, about 20 minutes by car from the center of Mihara City, Hiroshima. You can enjoy your meal while looking out at the Seto Inland Sea from all seats. Enjoy dishes that incorporate plenty of Hiroshima's blessings, such as octopus caught in the Seto Inland Sea, oysters and local shrimp from Hiroshima, Setouchi six-grain pork, aged chicken aged at low temperatures, and Setouchi beef. Drinks made with fresh citrus juice and Setouchi lemon are also delicious. Reservations are required for dinner. The perfect location can be used for a wide range of occasions, including wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Kyoto
A Culinary Spot Featuring Locally Sourced Seasonal Delicacies
"Kyokaido Gourmet Market" is a culinary destination showcasing seafood and agricultural products from Miyazu City, Kyoto - also known as the "Kyoto of the Sea". This multi-purpose facility offers a convenient way to enjoy the flavours of the region all in one place. The "Kyokaido Bakery" is known for its soft French bread, approximately 60 cm in length, baked fresh throughout the day. The retail section features ham and sausages produced by Tango Foods, the local company that operates the facility. At "Kyokaido Cafe", visitors can enjoy dishes made with ingredients from Miyazu City. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 5:00 P.M., the café transforms into an Italian night bar, offering craft beer and wine alongside its seasonal fare.
Shizuoka
Spend a Special Day with your Loved One in this Restaurant
"il ponte" is located in Tadehara, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and is a cafe and restaurant with a Southern European vibe, featuring a spacious terrace. This popular restaurant specializes in authentic European cuisine, particularly Italian dishes. The terrace is adorned with lovely flowers and greenery during the day, while the restaurant's interior offers a view of the starry sky at night, evoking a sensation of being at a foreign resort. The menu boasts a wide array of colorful dishes, including various, pastas, meat dishes, and salads made with fresh vegetables. The restaurant offers a variety of meal plans and courses designed to enhance occasions such as girls' nights out and anniversaries, making it an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy a special dining experience.
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During road trips, you may come across roadside stations or tourist markets and streets offering takeout seafood delights such as kushiyaki (grilled skewers), grilled oysters in their shells, and mini seafood bowls loaded with fresh ingredients. This takeout style allows you to easily enjoy local and B-class gourmet food unique to the region, making it a popular option for family trips with children or casual outings with friends.
Shimane
A Sushi Restaurant Committed to Fresh Ingredients
Located along National Route 9 in Higashiizumo-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, "Sushi Hakata, Farm-fresh Conveyor Belt Sushi" serves carefully crafted sushi made with freshly caught fish and seasonal ingredients sourced from across Japan. Beyond sushi, the menu offers a wide variety of seasonal dishes, side plates, drinks, and desserts. Takeout is available, so you can also enjoy the restaurant’s flavors at home. Seating includes a counter for solo diners and box seats that accommodate up to eight people, making it easy for both individuals and families to dine comfortably. A pond visible through the windows, where koi and goldfish glide by, adds to the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Hokkaido
Savour Seasonal Seafood Caught Near Otaru
Located approximately a 14-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, this kappo-style restaurant serves fresh sashimi and grilled dishes featuring seafood sourced from the nearby waters of Otaru. Hearty course and kaiseki meals made with seasonal ingredients are also available, with the menu tailored upon request at the time of booking.
Hokkaido
Street Corner Bites of Freshly Grilled Local Oysters
This restaurant serves live seafood from Hokkaido. Outside, grilled items are served in a casual, stall-style setting, while inside, the menu features regional dishes such as "Oyster Soba" and "Oyster Chazuke." The oysters, known for their large size and satisfying texture, are served raw in summer and freshly grilled in winter. The broth that collects in the shell is also part of the experience, with lemon or Tabasco added for extra flavor. Oysters from various regions—including Akkeshi, Senposhi in Kushiro, Shiriuchi, and Lake Saroma—are offered seasonally, allowing a comparison of different origins. Another highlight of the grill is scallops, served as large pieces with concentrated umami.
Hokkaido
Custom Seafood Bowls for a Truly Indulgent Experience
"Japanese Eatery Donburiya" is an eatery where you can enjoy seafood bowls, conveniently located approximately one minute on foot from JR Hakodate Station. As a seafood wholesaler, it handles high-quality, fresh seafood, and you can freely choose your favorite seafood, including the recommended sea urchin and abalone, as well as tuna, squid, salmon roe, and more, and enjoy a lavishly presented seafood bowl made just for you. What's more, the reasonable prices are also attractive, and it is a popular gourmet spot for locals and visitors to Hakodate who want to enjoy seafood every day. It is close to the station and has a wide variety of seafood souvenirs, so why not stop by during a break from sightseeing?
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