Cross to Shimonoseki — Japan's undisputed fugu (blowfish) capital — and explore Karato Market, where master chefs and fishmongers preside over the country's finest selection of fresh seafood at the source.
What to expect
Take the Kanmon Ferry from Moji (5 minutes) and step into Karato Market's vast, buzzing hall. Vendors arrange gleaming displays of seasonal seafood — fugu, sea urchin, yellowtail, and local shellfish — and on open-market mornings, set up nigiri and handroll stalls along the waterfront promenade. Choose your pieces from the artisan who caught or sourced them directly, and enjoy the Kanmon Strait as your backdrop. A visit to the nearby Akama Shrine — a vermillion-lacquered wonder dedicated to the child-Emperor Antoku who drowned here in 1185 — can be woven in on foot.
Good to know
The public tasting market (Ikiiki Karato Ichiba) operates Fri–Sun and public holidays, 10:00–15:00; weekday visits offer the wholesale experience with fewer stalls. The Moji–Karato ferry departs every 20–30 minutes from Moji Port. Allow at least 1.5–2 hours. Confirm your all-aboard time before crossing to the Shimonoseki side.