Shiogama City Fish Market

The Shiogama City Fish Market has operated for 91 years and is one of Japan's largest markets for fresh, non-frozen tuna. Each morning except Wednesdays from around 7 to 8 a.m., around 3,000 fresh tuna are sold in a walking auction, where the auctioneer moves down rows of fish taking bids at roughly 2.5 seconds per fish. Boats fishing with longlines rather than nets are required to follow strict quotas. Visitors can watch from an overhead gallery, explore interactive displays including a virtual sushi shop, and eat freshly caught fish at the market restaurant. The market is a 15-minute walk from both Higashi Shiogama and Hon Shiogama stations.