Nachikatsuura Tuna: Exquisite Seafood at Japan's Top Port for Fresh Tuna

Nachikatsuura Town in Higashimuro District, Wakayama is a fishing port town boasting Japan's top volume of "fresh tuna" (unfrozen fresh tuna) landings. The Kumano Sea, through which the Kuroshio Current flows, provides the ideal environment as a tuna fishing ground.

Katsuura Fishing Port Tuna Auction

At Katsuura Fishing Port, from around 5 AM every morning, enormous tuna are lined up one after another and auctioned. The auction is open to the public through prior application, offering a chance to experience fresh tuna and the lively auction atmosphere.

Morning Market and Maguro no Eki

At Katsuura Port Fukaura Plaza, "Katsuura Fishing Port Nigiwai Market" is held every morning from 8 AM. Fresh morning-caught fish and processed products are displayed for shopping while feeling the local atmosphere. "Maguro no Eki" offers various tuna-based dishes.

Exceptional Tuna Cuisine

In Nachikatsuura, you can enjoy dishes using every part of tuna: tuna sashimi, tuna rice bowls, grilled tuna collar, braised tuna cheek meat. The fatty red meat of bluefin tuna is exceptionally delicious.

Combined with Katsuura Onsen

Nachikatsuura also has "Katsuura Onsen," allowing relaxation in hot springs after enjoying seafood. Hotels built on a peninsula jutting into the sea offer open-air baths that seem to float on the ocean.

Access

5 minutes on foot from JR Kii-Katsuura Station. About 3 hours from Osaka by limited express.