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.
Iwate
Enjoy Fresh Seafood That Can Only Be Found in Stores Directly Managed by Fisheries Producers
A restaurant and direct sales facility directly managed by a fisheries industry, located about a 10 - minute walk from BRT Ofunato Station on the JR Ofunato Line. From seafood caught in the waters near Ofunato, where the Oyashio and Kuroshio Currents collide, a rich fishing ground, to farmed products such as scallops and oysters, you can only find fresh seafood lined up in stores directly managed by fisheries producers. The seafood on display at the store can be cut into sashimi, or cooked and eaten on the spot (separate Dish fee required). At the cafeteria, you can enjoy Sanriku seafood such as fries and sashimi, as well as the standard scallop and oyster set meal, which you can eat while grilling on the grill attached to the table.
Miyagi
Enjoy Whale Dishes and Seafood Unique to the Oshika Peninsula
Cottu, a tourism and product exchange facility located in Whale Town Oshika, a tourist facility on the Oshika Peninsula, opened in October 2019 in Ayukawahama, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. "Seafood Restaurant Nagisa" inside is a restaurant operated by "Shimashu no Yado Sakai", an inn located on the peninsula. Ayukawa is famous for its whale dishes and seafood dishes. The minke whale sashimi set meal, which can only be served fresh, and the set meal using seafood caught off the coast of Mt. Kinka in Sanriku, one of the world's best fishing grounds, are recommended. You can use the lobby inside Cottu as well as inside the store. You can enjoy your meal while looking out at the sea from the terrace seats.
Fukushima
A Ramen Restaurant Famous for Its Aizu Specialty “Sauce Katsudon”
A ramen restaurant located in Aizuwakamatsu that is popular for its freshly made sticky noodles and dried sardine - based soup. A popular menu is the set of ramen and Aizu's famous sauce katsudon, and the soft, juicy cutlet is delicious and will bring a smile to your face. The menu also includes the locally popular "Bero Ramen" (specially made wide noodles) and the local gourmet dish "Aizu Curry Yakisoba". The spacious interior has a Japanese - style warmth and is divided into two floors: the first floor and the second floor. There are tables and tatami rooms, making it easy to use by yourself or in a large group. It's crowded no matter the day of the week, so it's best to go during lunch.
Chiba
Enjoy Grilled Seafood With a Focus on Fresh Local Seafood
Hamachaya Amimoto is a restaurant located in Kujukuri Town, Chiba Prefecture, where you can enjoy grilled seafood and Japanese cuisine while looking out at the Kujukuri sea. In the spacious space with large windows and high ceilings, you can enjoy local turban shells, clams, abalone, and more in a hamayaki style. Kujukuri's famous sardines, which are extremely fresh, not bitter, and reasonably priced, are also popular, as is the tuna bukkake bowl, which is available in limited quantities. I'm happy that my beloved family members, my beloved dogs and cats, can spend time with me in the companion seat of the tatami room. Groups with dogs are also welcome.
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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
Hidden Izakaya in Susukino for Drinks and Small Bites
A hidden izakaya tucked away in a back alley in the heart of Susukino, Sapporo. In a homey atmosphere, you can enjoy a menu that pairs well with sake, including the specialty grilled shabu-shabu, grilled fish, and yakitori. The alcohol selection mainly includes sake from Hokkaido, as well as corn shochu from the Tokachi region.
Hiroshima
A Popular Izakaya Where Attention to Detail Shines Through in the Selection of Ingredients
A popular izakaya offering a wide variety of dishes, specializing in teppanyaki and kushikatsu. The "Kushikatsu Chef's Selection of 3-10 pieces" features classics like beef, pickled ginger, and quail eggs, along with seasonal offerings, all served with homemade sauces. Don't miss their limited-quantity specials, including carefully selected horse sashimi from Kumamoto Prefecture and the "Sea Urchin Holen with Baguette" featuring generous portions of uni. For the perfect finish, try their motsu nabe (offal hot pot) made with carefully prepared fresh offal in a special soup. With their extensive drink and course menu options, it's perfect for dates, girls' nights out, or drinking parties with friends.
Okayama
Luxurious Dishes Created by Artisans Through Trial and Error
Located in Kurashiki City’s historic Bikan District, the izakaya "Local sake and local cuisine Sawaraya" focuses on local sourcing, offering dishes featuring Okayama specialties like sawara (Spanish mackerel) and yellow garlic chives. The 200-year-old renovated traditional house provides a charming setting with views of a Japanese garden. The menu, paired with locally brewed sake, delivers a luxurious dining experience. With counter seating, tables, and tatami rooms, the restaurant accommodates a variety of occasions, from large gatherings to intimate meals.
Hyogo
An Izakaya Founded in 1974, Full of Local Love
A beloved izakaya located just a 2-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station has been serving customers for over 40 years. The menu features specialties from Hyogo Prefecture, such as fresh fish caught during the daytime haul, locally brewed sake, and premium "Kobe Beef." The restaurant values connections with producers, using locally sourced vegetables to complement its dishes. Guests can enjoy Hyogo's culinary delights while supporting the revitalization of the local community. In addition to fresh seafood and Kobe beef, courses featuring black wagyu shabu-shabu are also popular. With its casual and welcoming atmosphere, it's an ideal spot for friends or colleagues to gather.
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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.
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.
Gunma
Taste the Seasons in a Historic Meiji-Era Ryotei
"Ryotei Chojinso" was built in 1900 in Tsubaki Town, central Takasaki, as a businessman’s villa. It became a ryotei in 1955, named after the character "Chojin" from a calligraphy gifted by a visiting imperial family member during the Meiji era (1868–1912). The 1,000 m² garden is home to two free-roaming peacocks. The kaiseki course offers eight to eleven dishes using "Joshu beef" and local vegetables, updated every two months with occasional Western touches. All nine rooms are private and vary in size, making it ideal for celebrations, engagements, and family gatherings. Catering and lunch boxes are also available.
Shiga
Dishes Made with Fresh Ingredients and Outstanding Techniques
Uosei is a restaurant where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine that incorporates seasonal produce from Shiga Prefecture. Our seasonal kaiseki cuisine is made with seasonal ingredients such as home - grown pesticide - free vegetables, and is prepared by experienced chefs, with a focus on fresh fish with just the right amount of fat, which is delivered directly from Obama every morning. , the colors are vivid. Inside the hotel, where you can feel at ease with the seasonal flowers arranged throughout, there are rooms suitable for family gatherings, auspicious events, Buddhist services, welcome and farewell parties, entertainment, etc., such as table seats and Japanese - style rooms, which can be selected according to the number of guests and the occasion. are completed. We want you to enjoy a blissful moment of refined and luxurious kaiseki in a relaxing, high - quality space.
Wakayama
Creative Japanese Food and Sushi Where You Can Enjoy the "Highest Quality"
Sushi Tozaemon Annex Kagayaki opened in May 2022 by Tozaemon, a seafood merchant that has been in business since the Bunkyu era and also runs a sushi restaurant in Iwade City, Wakayama Prefecture. For this restaurant, we have invited a talented Japanese chef from overseas with over 30 years of experience. Everything from the interior to the set of chopsticks has been luxuriously done. Of course, the food is also luxurious. We use only the finest and rarest of the carefully selected natural fresh fish that Fujizaemon procures. Thanks to the chef's excellent skills and taste, you can discover a dish unique to that day that you have never seen before. The customers are mainly executives. The materials and atmosphere are top - notch, but it's not too difficult to enter and will warmly welcome adults.
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.
Osaka
Luxurious Dinner with a Night View
The restaurant's large windows overlook the Okawa River and Tenmabashi Bridge.At night, you can enjoy "Oiseushi," a brand of beef from Mie Prefecture, and fresh oysters while gazing at the glittering night view of the blue-lit Okawa River and the lights of the city.
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.
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.
Toyama
Dishes Perfectly Completed by Wine Pairings
"Winista" serves dishes that use an abundance of seasonal ingredients from Toyama Prefecture and are completed by pairing them with wine. The owner sommelier, a great wine enthusiast, confidently recommends unique wines to match each dish of the course menu. You can feel the attention to detail, not only in the pairing with the ingredients, but also in temperature control and tableware that allows you to enjoy the aroma to the fullest. Reservations are required by phone, and the course contents are created after confirming the occasion, preferences, and number of visits. Based on the concept of "from the everyday to the extraordinary," enjoy memorable service that focuses on each individual guest.
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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 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.
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
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.
Hiroshima
A Dual-Purpose Restaurant That Transforms Into a Café During the Day and an Izakaya at Night
A store located within walking distance from the Hiroshima Electric Railway Chuden-mae stop. During lunchtime, the restaurant offers poke bowls, set meals, and pizza toast at reasonable prices. A popular choice is the "poke bowl," available in a wide variety of flavors, from classic Hawaiian to Korean yukhoe and spicy options. At night, it transforms into a pub. They offer "gansu," a local dish of minced fish mixed with onions and chili peppers and deep-fried, "four kinds of seafood assortment," including cute octopus, and "three kinds of chicken fillet" topped with wasabi and plum perilla. You can enjoy hearty kushikatsu. There is also an all-you-can-drink menu, perfect for banquets and after-parties. Takeout is available both day and night.
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