AreaMatsushima Bay

Tuna Auction at Shiogama Fish Market

塩竈市魚市場 | Shiogama Fish Market

Watch a live tuna auction at the port boasting Japan's largest catch

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

  • Wesley Keppel-Henry

    Writer &
    2019–2021 Editor-in-chief

    Matsushima Bay

    Tags

    Last Update
    February 21, 2020

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  • Shiogama Port lands the largest catch of maguro tuna in all of Japan. Come watch as these prized fish are auctioned off! Visitors can watch freely from a windowed second-floor observation deck that offers a bird’s eye view of the action below. For those who want to feel the energy of being on the auction floor itself, English-friendly guided tours are available (reservations required).

    The maguro and swordfish auction begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. and moves quickly, altogether taking only about thirty minutes even on days with a large haul. Auctions are held daily, except for Sundays. Arriving early is recommended, so you can take in the view of the fish laid out for auction before buyers and auctioneers swarm the floor. Before the auction, you can watch as buyers trawl the rows of fish, assessing the quality of each specimen by inspecting its spine. After the auction ends, you can watch as the winning bidders haul their fish away and pack them in ice-filled crates for shipment across Japan—bound for Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka, and beyond!

    The second floor of the fish market also houses a small museum about the fishing and seafood industry. Exhibits include an English-friendly “virtual sushi bar,” and a 3D tuna puzzle that teaches visitors about the cuts of maguro. After whetting your appetite with all the seafood-themed exhibits, make your way to the central building of the market, where a diner serves breakfasts and lunches of seafood fresh from the market.

    Although their names are very similar and they are located just a short walk away from one another, the Shiogama Fish Market and the Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market are actually different places! The Shiogama Fish Market is where you can watch the tuna auctions, whereas the Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market is where you can shop for seafood yourself and enjoy build-your-own kaisendon seafood bowls.

    WEBSITEhttps://shiogama-fishmarket.co.jp/

Details

ADDRESS

1 Chome-13-1 Shinhamacho, Shiogama, Miyagi 985-0001

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

13-minute walk from Higashi-Shiogama Station

ADMISSION

Fish auction observation deck & museum: Free
Guided tours: Fee varies by tour package

LANGUAGES

Limited English

HOURS

7:00–17:00

RESERVATION

Not necessary for self-guided visits. For guided tours, reservations are required.

CLOSED DAYS

Wednesdays
A 6-day period over the New Year's holiday

PHONE

022-364-6151

Food & Drink Details

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

No

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE MENU

No

NON-SMOKING

Yes

TABLE CHARGE

No

LUNCH HOURS

Weekdays: breakfast 7:00–9:30, lunch 11:00–14:00
Weekends & holidays: 10:00–15:00

LUNCH LAST ORDER

13:30 weekdays, 14:30 weekends & holidays

RESERVATION

Not necessary

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