Karato Fish Market — Local services in Shimonoseki

if you are first time, please read the tips and thank me later ;) i went there on a sunday AM, i took shinkansen (non-reserve)( cheaper) from Hakata (about 8am) to Kokura and take a local train to Mojiko, follow by a ferry to the opposites side, walk to your right side and you will reach the place.

try to be there early before 830 to 9 to avoid the crowd and you can take nice pic along the way.

after the ferry ride, you will turn right and walk along the sea side, along the way, you will see some SQUARE tables with some chairs on your left, this is the area that is for you to sit while you can buy some ice cream or drinks from the nearby store. ( take note of this)

after you reach the fishing port, you will see small shops selling sushi (just follow the crowd), i will suggest get your sushi from those store that selling behind a plastic cover, cos everyone is not wearing a mask...

please bring cash as most only accept cash, after you gotten your food, you can choose to eat at the 2nd floor which you need to pay a fee to enter the place just to eat OR you can eat outside the fishport under the hot sun OR you can GO BACK to the square table area and get a drink or ice cream and eat there, but please remember to throw away your rubbish properly after your meal, do take note the sushi area only open during sat and sun or some of their public holiday.

dont expect super good sushi but they are good enough...

This is the house of Fugu shashimi. The stores inside this fish market sell sushi and shashimi - the freshest I've ever eaten.

We arrived at 8:45 am puzzled that none of the stores were open. Then we saw them preparing and getting sushi on display. Then we were told they only start selling at 9:30 am . People started to flood the market and started queuing up at 8:45 am.

We stood in line too , there were just so many people and if we didn't get in line, we wouldn't have gotten a share of anything. We're glad we did- the tuna sushi- so many varieties - blue and yellow fins - melt in the mouth goodness. We also tried fugu ¥1000. It wasn't particularly tasty but we need to try it as we won't be able to get that anywhere else.

If you intend to come here, come early, be ready to stand for 45 mins, have another person queue for other stores, there's this fish soup , that seems very popular with the locals. We didn't see it until we finished our meal.

We bought our share of sushi and sat next on the bench outside the market. Everyone did that- the place is very popular with the locals.

See photos for sushi, the stores in the market, the place we sat for a sushi picnic along with many locals.

Highly recommended if you're around Shimanoseki! It's next...

Many roads lead to karato! It was rather confusing bec of the timing. Enroute to Karato, the train station, Mojito, was full of charm. Mojito retains a nostalgic charm as the train station seemed old.

The ferry from Mojito station across the straits allows you to take in the size and popularity of this fish market

The fish market was bustling with activity and it’s the first time we see so many varieties of sushi being displayed. We opted for this brightly colored yellow shop that has a logo that says “ good tourist”. Friendly service and the sweet prawn and otoro were such large pieces and deliciously creamy.

Didn’t dare try their famous fugu but we discovered you could sit upstairs with a fee ¥300 but I would rather brave the cold and enjoy the sea breeze sitting outside the market on the lawn.

Definitely worth the trek to this place even though we...