Kesennuma Fish Market

What to know

Kesennuma City Fish Market (気仙沼市魚市場) is one of Japan's largest seafood markets. Every day except Sundays, public holidays, New Year, and certain other days, trucks and fishing boats deliver their catch for auction between 6am and 8am in vast halls.

Year-round seafood includes tuna, swordfish, and shark, while seasonal offerings feature bonito (katsuo), Pacific saury (sanma), and various shellfish. Kesennuma is especially known for its shark products—every part of the shark is used, from fins and fish paste to leather and health supplements.

A long observation deck on the second floor lets visitors watch the action for free, as the general public cannot enter the ground-floor auction area. One section handles large fish like shark and tuna, another smaller fish and shellfish. No reservation is needed.

Next to the market is Umi no Ichi, a two-story complex with restaurants, souvenir shops, produce and seafood stores, a shark museum, an ice aquarium, and a tourist information center. A bridge connects it to the market's observation deck.

The Shark Museum on Umi no Ichi's second floor dedicates half its space to memories of the town before and after the 2011 tsunami and the reconstruction efforts, while the other half covers fishing as a local livelihood and information about various shark species. The Ice Aquarium displays local fish frozen in ice blocks.

Kesennuma's fish market is a 10-minute ride from Kesennuma Station on the city's loop bus (200 yen one way, every 1-2 hours). Get off at Umi-no-ichi-mae (海の市前) bus stop. Alternatively, it's a 30-40 minute walk from the station.