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.
Ishikawa
A Neighbourhood Kitchen Serving Simple and Heartwarming Dishes
This local eatery serves regional ingredients at reasonable prices. As the area is known for rice cultivation, the rice used is sourced from contracted farmers and carefully cooked to a glossy, fluffy finish. Home-grown vegetables are also purchased and featured in small dishes and pickles. With its unpretentious atmosphere, the restaurant welcomes all visitors. Seasonal ingredients are used to create a wide variety of thoughtful dishes reminiscent of traditional Japanese cuisine, attracting many repeat guests from both within and outside the prefecture. Choosing what to eat next is part of the fun.
Hokkaido
Premium Sea Urchin Dishes by a Long-Standing Seafood Wholesaler
"Uni no Sato" is conveniently located approximately a minute's walk from JR Hakodate Station. Located in the area of Hakodate Morning Market, a popular tourist spot in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, this sea urchin specialty restaurant is run by a seafood wholesaler and serves fresh seafood that only a wholesaler can provide. For sea urchin lovers, the restaurant offers a luxurious selection of dishes that showcase the natural sweetness and rich flavor of uni, along with a variety of seafood from Hokkaido. Highlights include the "Sea Urchin and Abalone Bowl", generously topped with both delicacies, and the "Two-Color Bowl", featuring seasonal portions of bafun and purple sea urchin. This is a restaurant that you should definitely stop by to commemorate your trip to Hakodate.
Chiba
Kamogawa’s Local Flavors, Served at Their Best
This Japanese restaurant has been loved for about 40 years in Kamogawa City, Chiba. They serve Japanese cuisine made with seasonal local ingredients such as "Nagasa rice" and local fish, and the homemade desserts that come with the set menu are also one of their attractions. In addition to table seating, they also have private rooms and banquet halls, making them perfect for large groups.
Kouchi
A Restaurant Where You Can Enjoy Warm, Homemade Food and Seasonal Flavors
"Nishimura Shoten" is a popular restaurant located in "Tosa no Sato AGRI COLLETTO" complex in Kitamiza, Kochi City. Local ingredients from Kochi are served in a variety of dishes, such as "Today's Ippon-zashi Sashimi Set Meal" - a signature sashimi dish featuring an entire fresh fish sliced and served - along with sizzling teppan-grilled items and hearty fried foods. The menu is affordably priced and includes flavourful meat dishes that pair well with rice, ramen, and mini seafood bowls. With options available even for those who prefer non-seafood dishes, the offerings appeal to all ages.
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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.
Osaka
Experience Hamayaki at a Conveniently Located Food Court
Located in the HUB KITCHEN food court in Honmachi Yokocho, approximately a2-minute walk from Osaka Metro Honmachi Station, this seafood izakaya offers a barbecue on a table-top stove at each table.Barbecue can be enjoyed at the tabletop stove at each table, and all courses include all-you-can-eat chicken wings.
Miyagi
Enjoy Miyagi's Delicious Sake Easily and at an Affordable Price
About a 3 - minute walk from Sendai Station, this restaurant has a reputation for being able to enjoy a variety of Miyagi's seasonal flavors at reasonable prices. We have fresh Sanriku fish shipped directly from the source, and over 50 types of local sake from all over the country that change seasonally. It's a popular restaurant that is often full, so it's best to make a reservation in advance if you plan to visit. Lunch is full of great value menus, with a focus on seafood bowls. Among them, the "Omikuji - don" filled with plenty of seafood purchased that day is very popular. Inspired by the desire to return the favor from Tohoku, 100 yen from the lunch fee will be donated to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (duration to be determined).
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.
Chiba
Enjoy Carefully Selected Sushi, Sake, and A La Carte Dishes at Otaki
"Sushidokoro Mizuki" is located in Otaki Castle Town, Otaki, Isumi County, Chiba Prefecture, a place connected to Tadakatsu Honda. The inside of the restaurant is much more spacious than you might imagine from the outside, and there is also a tatami room for groups. There are also seats available for people in wheelchairs. The ingredients used for the carefully made sushi are all based on the owner's motto of offering the most delicious food of the season, without being particular about the place of origin. Also, the a la carte dishes made with fresh fish caught in the waters around Sotobo are delicious. It goes perfectly with the over 60 types of sake we always have in stock. You can also find local sake such as "Otakijo" and "Koshikoi".
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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.
Osaka
A Hideaway Sushi Restaurant for Adults Near Namba Station
An Edomae sushi restaurant that opened in Namba, Osaka in July 2022. The restaurant is particular about not only the quality of its sushi, but also its private space with the warmth of wood that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city as soon as you step inside.
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.
Shiga
A Famous Japanese Restaurant in Hikone That Has Been Running Since 1896
A Japanese restaurant with a long history, without changing its location or building since its establishment in 1899. It is used in a wide variety of situations, from dinner parties and memorial services to individual visitors enjoying sightseeing in Hikone. Another appeal is that all rooms are private and you can relax. They sell local products such as duck in the winter and sweetfish and biwa trout in the summer, and their specialty is carp koku (a soup made by simmering carp in white miso), which has the same flavor since its founding. They basically serve Kyoto cuisine using local Omi vegetables, but they also serve Omi beef, which is in high demand. In 2015, we opened a tempura specialty store called "Tenki" with counter seats in the same store.
Yamagata
Creative Course Meals Using Local Ingredients
A creative Japanese cuisine restaurant where you can enjoy reasonably priced course meals using seafood from Shonai Beach and Yamagata beef. Enjoy your meal slowly while sipping on a variety of local sake. The recommended "Yonezawa beef sirloin steak" is marbled and delicious. It can be used for a wide variety of purposes, from banquets to small drinking parties.
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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.
Aomori
Taste and Landscape Engaging All Five Senses
This restaurant with a spectacular view specializes in ingredients from the Northern Ou region of Aomori and Iwate prefectures. Lunch offers a limited-edition seasonal local fish course, as well as à la carte dishes featuring pasta and grilled dishes. Dinner offers a creative French and Italian course menu, offering a "special and familiar" experience.
Mie
Seasonal Dishes of Kuwana Served in a Refined Traditional Space
This restaurant and wedding venue in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, is a modern-day revival of a long-established restaurant founded in the Meiji era. Guests may enjoy unhurried moments across a variety of spaces, including elegant private rooms in a sukiya-style building and the modern “The Garden Room,” filled with gentle natural light. For wedding ceremonies, guests can choose between a formal Japanese wedding or a sophisticated Western-style ceremony, with the beautiful, well-maintained garden as a backdrop. The restaurant serves visually stunning, creative French cuisine that exquisitely blends Japanese and Western styles, using generous amounts of local seasonal ingredients and the restaurant's specialty, clams. Unforgettable hospitality creates a fitting setting for cherished anniversaries and family milestones.
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.
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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.
Kyoto
A Sushi Restaurant in Saiin, Kyoto That Is Particular About Natural Fish and Vegetables
A sushi restaurant about 13 minutes walk from Tambaguchi Station on the JR Sagano Line. This restaurant is run by a proprietor who wants people to enjoy sushi in a casual manner, and strives to create a customer - centered restaurant. You can visit anytime during business hours, and you can even use it with your baby. They serve sushi and other dishes according to the customer's pace. For dinner, we recommend the "General's Omakase Nigiri Course" where you can enjoy 12 pieces of nigiri. We use ingredients that are kind to the body, such as sushi vinegar and salt that do not contain chemical seasonings, and vegetables that do not use pesticides as much as possible. I want to fully enjoy sushi made with fresh, natural seafood.
Hokkaido
Premium Sea Urchin Dishes by a Long-Standing Seafood Wholesaler
"Uni no Sato" is conveniently located approximately a minute's walk from JR Hakodate Station. Located in the area of Hakodate Morning Market, a popular tourist spot in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, this sea urchin specialty restaurant is run by a seafood wholesaler and serves fresh seafood that only a wholesaler can provide. For sea urchin lovers, the restaurant offers a luxurious selection of dishes that showcase the natural sweetness and rich flavor of uni, along with a variety of seafood from Hokkaido. Highlights include the "Sea Urchin and Abalone Bowl", generously topped with both delicacies, and the "Two-Color Bowl", featuring seasonal portions of bafun and purple sea urchin. This is a restaurant that you should definitely stop by to commemorate your trip to Hakodate.
Hokkaido
Enjoy Sushi and Small Bites in a Cozy, Inviting Space
Just about a 2-minute walk from Kotoni Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway, "Sushidokoro Misao" offers a warm welcome and masterfully crafted sushi. The owner, who trained for over 10 years at sushi restaurants in Sapporo and says he “loves sushi so much he could eat it every day," prepares each piece with great care, showcasing the rich flavors of fresh fish. During the day, guests can enjoy sushi at reasonable prices, while in the evening, the chef’s choice course and nigiri sets come highly recommended. The bright, clean, and cozy interior features both counter and table seating, making it perfect for solo diners, families with children, or a special meal with someone important.
Hokkaido
Signature Beef Cutlet and Shabu-Shabu Dishes to Savor
This izakaya has a wide variety of menu items, including shabu-shabu, seafood dishes, and the specialty beef cutlet. It is run by a meat wholesaler, so you can enjoy shabu-shabu at a reasonable price. In addition to meat dishes such as tender beef cutlet and fresh seafood, there are many dishes that focus on dashi, such as udon and oden.
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