Cross to Shimonoseki — the global capital of fugu (pufferfish) — to experience the spectacular Karato Market, where the finest pufferfish in Japan are auctioned and sold, then sit down to the ultimate fugu omakase tasting prepared by a licensed master chef. A singular, irreplaceable culinary bucket-list moment.
What to expect
A short ferry crossing (or walk through the undersea pedestrian tunnel) brings you from Mojiko to Shimonoseki's famous Karato waterfront. The Karato Ichiba market is a feast for the senses — vivid displays of the day's catch, live fugu in tanks, and the animated theatre of a working Japanese fish market. On weekends, stalls open to the public for extraordinary fresh seafood at market prices. Select a licensed fugu restaurant on the waterfront and surrender to an omakase menu: silky fugu sashimi (tessa), the warming fugu hot pot (fugu-chiri), and the delicate fugu skin salad — flavours and textures of remarkable subtlety, known and celebrated across Japan for centuries.
Good to know
The Kanmon ferry from Mojiko runs frequently and takes just 5 minutes (approx. JPY 400 each way). Weekend mornings offer the most vibrant market atmosphere with public stalls. Fugu restaurants require advance reservation — book before your cruise departs. Confirm all-aboard time carefully; allow at least 3–4 hours for the full experience.
More to do in Moji (Kanmon Straits)
- Shimonoseki & Mojiko Retro: Private Full-Day Licensed Guide Tour
- Kanmon Straits Twilight Cruise: Private Boat Through Japan's Busiest Channel
- Mojiko Retro District: Meiji Architecture & Baked Curry Masterclass Walk
- Mojiko Retro Observation Gallery: 103m Panorama of the Kanmon Straits
- Kanmon Strait Museum (Kaikyokan): Interactive Deep-Dive into the Living Straits