The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

Fukuoka is blessed with bounty of seafood. Then, as well as farmars’ markets, there are fishermen’s markets scattered around Fukuoka City.

A friend of mine told me that this market, about 20km away from the city centre, dealt with the finest kinds at very reasonable price. Once visited, we naturally became a regular there.

Today, there seems to have been a good catch. The cases were filled with the morning catch.

After holding a brief (otherwise someone will take 'our' fish ) conclave, we decided to get 3 day’s supply.

Horse mackerel, JPY650,  for sashimi today

Bigfin reef squid, JPY1,000,  for sahimi, too. And possibly for stir-fry later on

Red seabreams, JPY 250 for two, for roast

Searobins, JPY 250 for two, for stew

Comparing this prices and how much I spent for the clam-digging the other day, don’t you think it’s much more sensible to get fish here than to fish yourself  (I am not pointing at my husband, though)?

However, there should be some points to avoid dissapointment. First of all, you should keep an eye on weather reports when planning a trip here. As fishery can be influenced by weather to a great extent, if there was strong winds or big waves the night before, there will be fewer fish in the cases.

One more tip (sorry for being so patronising); hit the store in the morning, before noon at latest. My friend who told me about this market goes there at half past eight when the market opens in order to get the best.  I haven’t been there that early, I usually reach at around 10 or later. But I certainly see empty cases when I went there at around noon.