🗺️ Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market

Shiogama Port's tuna catch is among the top in Japan, with the catch of the main ingredient for tuna sashimi, "mebachi tuna," ranking first in the country. The Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market is filled with a wide variety of fresh seafood from Shiogama Port, and as soon as you step into the market, you can hear the lively and energetic calls of the vendors. In the market, not only can you purchase seafood, but you can also enjoy lunch. The personal seafood bowls filled with your favorite seafood ingredients are very popular among travelers. There is a cafeteria market that serves seasonal ingredients, as well as a barbecue area where you can grill and eat the fresh seafood you just bought. About a 5-minute walk from the Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market is the Shiogama City Fish Market, where bidding auctions are held around 8 AM on the days when tuna are landed, allowing visitors to observe the auction from the second floor. On the third Monday of July, the "Shiogama Port Festival," one of Japan's three major boat festivals, is held. This festival is organized to revitalize the industry of the boat town of Shiogama and to boost the morale of the citizens. The scene is spectacular, with the ceremonial boats carrying the mikoshi of Shiwahiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine leading hundreds of offering boats as they parade through Matsushima Bay.

You can buy freshly caught seafood right off the boat. The restaurant "My Seafood Don" in the market is the most popular. You can also visit the auction live at the Shiogama Fish Market, which is about a 5-minute walk away. After noon, there are fewer shops open, so it's best to visit before lunchtime. An early market is held every Sunday.