Tottori’s Ultimate Fishing Port! Sakaiminato – A Seafood Haven

Fresh from the Port! Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center

Sakaiminato is one of Japan’s leading fishing ports, with red snow crab alone accounting for 60% of the country’s total production. From September to June, red snow crabs are in season in Tottori, and at the Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center, you can buy a large bag of red snow crabs for just ¥2,000, making it a high-value purchase.

Renovated in April 2022, the Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center is located next to Sakaiminato Fish Market, offering fresh local catches straight from the fishing port. The bright, market-like atmosphere resembles a seafood food court, with 15 neatly arranged seafood stores. Visitors can purchase sashimi, sushi, and crabs at the stalls and then enjoy their meal at the seating area in the middle. During crab season, especially in November when Matsuba crabs and red snow crabs are in peak season, the prices are clearly labeled according to size and quality, often surprisingly affordable! Vendors will even offer live crab-cutting demonstrations for tastings. Matsuba crabs are available in both live and pre-cooked varieties, and only live crabs can be prepared as crab leg sashimi and steamed crab. The friendly vendors will help process your purchase and provide sauces and crab-eating tools, ensuring a convenient experience.

The renovated Sakaiminato Fish Market Direct Sales Center houses 15 stores selling both fresh and dried seafood products. INFO: Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center Address: 9-5 Showamachi, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture Phone: 0859-30-3857 Hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm | Closed on Tuesdays Access: 9 minutes by bus from JR Sakaiminato Station Website: sanmaki-direct.jp

Crab Season Kickoff! All-You-Can-Eat Red Snow Crab During crab season, the restaurant features a mini seafood market selling red snow crabs and Matsuba crabs at discounted prices Kaishin offers a 60-minute all-you-can-eat red snow crab buffet, where customers can order unlimited additional crabs after finishing their initial four. The red snow crabs used for the all-you-can-eat buffet at Kaishin are freshly caught from Sakaiminato Port, ensuring that the meat is firm and deliciously sweet.

Tottori’s red snow crabs account for 60% of Japan’s total crab catch, making Sakaiminato a paradise for crab lovers every year from September when the season begins! Kaishin, a cozy izakaya in Sakaiminato, transforms into a mini seafood market during crab season, offering a 60-minute red snow crab all-you-can-eat buffet from September to June. The restaurant takes pride in using only fresh, non-frozen crabs selected daily from Sakaiminato Port. The crab meat is rich in flavor and sweetness! The buffet costs ¥4,400 per person, and after the staff demonstrates how to properly dismantle the crab, the countdown begins. Customers can order unlimited additional crabs after finishing the initial four, and any leftover crabs can be taken home (limited to the first four crabs). Due to its popularity, be sure to call ahead to reserve a spot for this all-you-can-eat crab feast!

At the direct sales center, visitors can create their own seafood bowl (Katte Don) by selecting their favorite sashimi. The seafood vendors will help with the cooking. The legs and claws of live Matsuba crabs can be prepared as sashimi, while the body is boiled and the meat is extracted, allowing you to enjoy the crab in two different ways. INFO: Kaishin Address: 1802-23 Fukusadacho, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture Phone: 0859-42-3223 Hours: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm | Closed on Thursdays Access: 9 minutes by car from JR Sakaiminato Station Website: www.kaigan-kaishin.com

With its coastal abundance, Sakaiminato ranked third among Japan’s major fishing ports in 2023. The port produces a significant portion of Japan’s seafood, with red snow crabs alone accounting for 60% of the national total. To get a behind-the-scenes look at this heavyweight fishing port, visitors can join the Sakaiminato Port Guided Tour. This 50-minute tour, held three times daily, provides a rare opportunity to witness the unloading of seafood from fishing boats and observe the otherwise restricted auction process. The tour guide will share insider knowledge about the seafood, making this a must-do activity. After the tour, head over to the nearby Sakaiminato Seafood Direct Sales Center to enjoy the freshest seafood straight from the port!

The approximately 50-minute “Sakaiminato Fishing Port Guided Tour” allows visitors to see the auction process up close.

INFO: Sakaiminato Port Guided Tour Address: Inside Ryuutsu Kaikan, 9-33 Showamachi, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture Phone: 0859-44-6668 (Sakaiminato Fisheries Promotion Association) Tour Times: 7:00 am (except July and August), 9:00 am, 10:00 am | Closed on Sundays, public holidays, year-end, and summer holidays Admission: ¥500 | Free for high school students and younger (English guides available, reservations required two days in advance) Access: 6 minutes by car from JR Sakaiminato Station Website: www.sakaiminato.net/about/gyokou-tour