- Places and Activities
- Seafood & Sushi
Roadside Station – Marine Dream Nou
Located in between Itoigawa's two largest fishing harbors, Marine Dream Nou is the place to go to enjoy the freshest seafood from the Sea of Japan! If you love seafood, then you have to stop here! At Crab Market Alley (Kaniya Yokochō), local crab boats line up to sell their freshly caught crabs. Nou is particularly famous for the benizuwai crab, a variety of snow crab found in abundance in the Sea of Japan. Living at depths of up to 800 m below the sea, these bright red crabs can be caught and enjoyed throughout the year, making them especially popular as a summer treat! ※In order to prevent overexploitation, crab fishing is restricted during January and February. Next to Crab Market Alley is a large seafood market, featuring a wide variety of freshly caught seasonal fish and other marine produce. During the summer, enjoy freshly grilled seafood, prepared right in the market! If you're looking for a delicious seafood meal, then step into one of the four seafood restaurants for a lunch you won't forget! From hearty crab ramen to gourmet sashimi platters, if you like seafood then you definitely won't leave hungry! Make sure to stop by the gift shop for locally made produce and gifts or ask about more of the amazing places to visit in the Nou Region at the on-site Tourist Information Corner.
- Seafood & Sushi
Seafood and Sushi of Itoigawa
The Area's Freshest Seafood, From Boat to Table! Itoigawa's location, wedged between the Japanese Alps and the Sea of Japan, make it an exceptionally good place for catching fish. The towering mountains and steep cliffs seen along the coast continue deep into the sea, creating a large underwater biosphere dotted with volcanic reefs, forests of kelp and more. As the heavy, pure white snow of winter melts, it filters through a variety of rocks and hillside forests of beech and cedar, collecting minerals and nutrients which feed into the area's many rivers. This nutrient-rich water, carried by fast currents, plunges deep into the sea, churning the waters and feeding the teeming life below. Scores of fishermen haul their catches to Itoigawa's 7 fishing ports daily and the fish auctions and markets are always full of local fishmongers, hoteliers and restauranteurs who provide only the freshest local seafood to their guests. You will recognize a lot of the fish brought to market each day, including Benizuwai crab, Namban shrimp, flounder, halibut, cod, sea bream, salmon, mackerel and more, but for a true culinary delight, seek out the lesser known local catches: gengyo (eel pout), megisu (deep sea smelt), ankou (monkfish), tochiuo (goatfish) and other rare delicacies! You can find all of these and more at Itoigawa's fish markets and restaurants.