Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market

This old-school market was established in 1965, and is often the next stop after watching the early morning tuna and fish auctions at the nearby Shiogama City Fish Market. The city of Shiogama has the largest number of sushi restaurants per capita in Japan, so seafood here is a way of life.

At the market's many stalls, the day's catches are sliced up and readied to be sold to customers. While wholesale markets in Japan are usually only open to restaurateurs, the Shiogama Seafood Market is open to regular visitors and curious travelers as well. The market is host to about 100 different stalls, many of which have been run by the same family for generations.

The seafood market miraculously survived destruction by tsunami during the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Despite the damage sustained, the stall holders put up temporary awnings and stalls just 3 days after the disaster, and it quickly became an essential hub and food supplier for the entire Tohoku area.

One of the highlights of the market is the chance to create one’s own kaisendon (rice bowl topped with seafood). Choosing toppings is simple, as the vendors have convenient signs pointing out which types of seafood can be eaten raw, so even first-time visitors can easily  select safe ingredients. Shiogama boasts the highest catch of fresh (not frozen) tuna in Japan, and from September to December foodies come from all across the country to eat the special, umami-rich Higashimono tuna sold here. The prices are about a third of what fish-lovers could expect to pay in Tokyo, and the quality is far fresher. For those who prefer their seafood cooked, there are charcoal grills available to rent, along with freshly fried tempura, light nibbles, and drinks.

Visitors who wish to see the tuna-cutting are most likely to catch the skilled cutters at work on Friday or Saturday, around 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.