If you love sushi and/or sashimi like me, you must never fail to stop by Furukawa Fish Market! This market is also known as Aomori Gyosai Center and this was where we had our fresh seafood lunch.
Yes, you read it right, the market is in Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island. From a distance, you could already see the island of the famous Hokkaido region.
The market may look like an ordinary building from the outside but don't be fooled. It's where the famous のっけ丼 (read as nokke-don) is located. That means you could choose your own toppings for your rice bowl meal. Many sell seafood here, raw and fresh but there are also cooked ones. Aside from seafood, there are also vegetables and cooked meats. Can you guess what I chose for my meal?
The moment you get inside, you'll be greeted by different aromas. And prepare to walk on wet floors. It was snowing outside and the market is not using a heater so no need to take off your jackets.
When we arrived, we immediately went to the cashier and paid 2,000 yen worth of tickets for each person. For this amount, we got 10 tickets each. This is enough if you want more and different toppings like me but you can add more tickets.
After paying, the cashier led us to where we would get our bowls. We paid 1 ticket for a normal serving of rice. After getting our bowl with rice in it, we started roaming around and checking every shop.
We were starving and the appealing seafood in the market didn't help but we took our time to choose what would be the best seafood rice bowl meal for this day. I couldn't believe I was so patient at these hungry moments. 😂
The shopowners had already prepared a small plate or container in exchange for tickets. A plate can require 1 ticket but sometimes it can go up to 3 tickets like this scallops.
When I saw this big shrimp (赤エビ), I fell in love. Chos! This is my favorite so I had to get one for myself, even when this costs me 2 tickets. My friends got it too. And yep, this is raw.
Aside from nokkedon, they also sell seafood like what you see in a normal wet market. You don't need tickets for this.
There's only one shop selling meat here. I don't see them selling cooked food in exchange for tickets to my nokkedon. But near this shop, you can exchange tickets for a fried chicken (唐揚げ read as karaage).
There are also snacks sold here. You can buy and bring it home. They're good for souvenirs too.
There are so many fishes I am not familiar of so I was a bit curious what this stranger just got for his nokkedon.
I've basically toured the whole market but I still have few more tickets. When I reached the end, I found the perfect toppings for my bowl. I used up all the remaining tickets with me in this shop.
Unfortunately, you cannot take this home. It must be eaten inside the premises. No need to worry, there are enough seats for everyone. They also have free drinking water and condiments. I couldn't remember if there was a vending machine inside but there's a shop selling fruit juice which I was confused if I should get one or not. In the end, I went with water.
I was the first to complete the task of making my own seafood rice bowl among my friends. They still had tickets left and they couldn't find a good one. They're still not so adventurous in raw seafood unlike me. They went to get the fried chicken (karaage) and another friend got another rice bowl (no toppings, just rice).
This is the result of my seafood rice bowl! Of course, I got all seafood. 😅 Can you guess all the toppings I added in my nokkedon?
I got the 赤エビ (shrimp), salmon, ネギトロ (read as negitoro) or scallion tuna belly, まぐろ (read as maguro) or tuna, scallops, and うなぎ (read as unagi) or freshwater eel. My least favorite would be the scallops. I never thought it would be kinda chewy.
I was so full and I enjoyed the food and the market! The seafood was so fresh! It wasn't crowded on a weekday lunch. When you visit Aomori, don't forget to drop by Furukawa Market and have a nokkedon! They're not open for dinner, they close at 4 PM so have your breakfast or lunch here instead.
This post is an entry to #MarketFriday by @dswigle. Make sure to check out the community!
Thanks for reading!
See you around! じゃあ、またね！
All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.
Sa mukbang ra gyud ko kita ani. Good thing you have the opportunity to experience this. ☺️
This place is far from where I live, medj tuyoon jud sya and maygani na adto namo ☺️
Tig sana all lang ko. Hahahah
What an awesome experience!
Japan is expensive, huh? 👀
That was 2000 Yen's worth? It looks really incredible though...
I think the price is decent for this bowl in this place and the time they allocated to make this too.
And we were out yesterday and my son asked what the Yen / Rand exchange rate is and I could answer him! :)
Have a great weekend 🌼
Niceee! Have a great weekend with family!
:)
Your experience reminds me of what I call a hole in the wall here. Basically a place that looks ordinary or below average but is really good.
That's new to me hole in the wall, I should use this phrase to my friends 😂
Very popular saying here, we actually seek these places and than keep them hush hush 🤫 😂 so they don't get too busy.
Agree! We don’t want the crowd to know so we can keep it for ourselves 😂
various foods are sold there, while I am of course very interested in enjoying seafood there
It's a seafood little heaven! Sadly those allergic to seafood won't enjoy a lot
I love it!!! That seafood looks amazing but I never get scallops raw. I prefer them lightly seared, and it is exactly the reason you pointed out. They are too chewy. Helpful hint: Bay scallops are smaller and sweeter, whereas sea scallops are larger by three times and chewy. I think you might have got sea scallops. It is one of my favorite seafood, although I like the tiny scallops that are caught in shallow water.
By the way, I have never seen a place like this, so huge!!! And look at the menu they have! Everything!!! I hope you got enough to eat! LOL You are like me... I could eat all day long. Ok... maybe half a day!
How did you ever find this place and do you think the prices were reasonable? Would you go back again?
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world. Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday
Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!
. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post.
6.#MarketFriday post should be submitted sometime on Friday UTC
#MarketFriday loves you!
I learned something about scallops today! Thank you. This might be the sea scallops. I'll try to find tiny ones next time so I can compare.
While I was traveling in Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of the main island in Japan, I was looking for places to go or where to eat on maps. I came across the term nokkedon and because it's near the hotel, just within walking distance, we tried going there. My friend went to the onsen place beside it the day before but he never thought of going inside this market. Well, it doesn't really look like a place for eating or even a market when viewed outside so it's acceptable he missed this place.
I think the prices were reasonable. It takes skill and time and I don't know, lots of stuff. They were accommodating too.
I'd definitely go back next time I'll be in Aomori. Their food is really delicious and this market is too unique.
Yes! The larger sea scallops have a different texture when they are grilled or fried. They taste wonderful. Not so much raw.
Supercool that it is a market, but, a discreet one. I am glad you discovered another amazing place to take us! Thank you!
Greetings this way. My goodness, I love seafood too much and I don't know how I would feel if I had a choice of so many options to prepare a fresh dish. I think I'll go for everything for me nokkedon hahaha a visual pleasure your article. Big hugs to you.
Thank you! There were so many good options that you'll definitely choose what's best for you. 😅
I've been to Aomori a few times, wife's aunt & uncle live there, but I've never been to this market. I'll have to put it on the bucket list now. Nothing like the seafood up there.
I guess it's not so popular. Though I think everything in Aomori's not so popular except for apples and ski/snowboard..?
If you try to search nokkedon, you'll be able to find this. I was searching for lunch options near our hotel and found this 😅
That’s a beautiful market, I wouldn’t mind visiting one day.
It truly all looks so fresh.
I’m getting hungry hahaha 🤣
Thanks for sharing with us @wittyzell have a beautiful weekend! 👋🏻😊
Thank you! Enjoy your weekend too!
You are welcome, thanks @wittyzell 👋🏻😊
This sounds like a wonderful place! I'd have a hard time chosing what to get. I hope my fish doesn't go bad while I wander around! Sad that they use styrofoam bowls though - since you have to eat there, they could have used something that's washable.
Oh yeah, that's true. The bowl is something to improve. 😌
You really have the knack of identifying hidden good places that renders quality services 😅😅
You love exploring Because that is the only way you would have located somewhere so nice without a flashy decoration.
What is the reason behind this Though?
It's fun to discover ordinary things in people's eyes but actually they're actually something unique and precious. 😆
I am not sure of the reason why, but probably has something to do with its freshness. The toppings are raw so I guess they want it to be consumed immediately.
Oh! Alright
It's understandable now
I enjoyed reading the post. That market has a lot of provision. ANd, finding a good bowld of treats it just add on. !discovery 30
Thank you! I was the only one taking photos at that time in the market. It was so embarrassing. 😂
Omg!! I love this place, it's so raw (like my pun 😜?) and authentic
Definitely a great place to add to your itinerary! 😁
When I go for sushi, I will get chirashi if it is offered. Essentially what you have here, just pre-selected items.
I feel awful for having a nigiri chef put all that time into making each little nigiri and then I just shove it in my mouth and destroy it. LOL
Thanks for the stories. I have put this market on my "Want to Visit" list, if I'm ever in Aomori.
The time they put into putting into different containers is really tiresome, but that's what I notice in Japan a lot. They tend to separate things, even chocolates or snacks.
I'm no fan of seafood, but even I can tell that that would be a great place to go especially if you loved it - looks pretty awesome !
!PIZZA
Thanks hoosie! It was really an interesting experience.
D ko bet and lasa yang too red ang kulay na sushi.. .malansa ko sya 😅. Pero sarap sna mag usi ng crabs and shrimps lutuin sa coconut milk hehe
Ay talaga? Di naman sya malansa here, maybe sa mga na try ko na places.
Iwan.. Bka sa genki lang 🤣
Food from Japan is famous in the World,one of wich is Indonesia. The fish market in Japan is very clean. Thank you ,greetings.
It was really clean. The smell was unlike markets in other countries I've been.
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
This post was shared and voted inside the discord by the curators team of discovery-it
Join our Community and follow our Curation Trail
Discovery-it is also a Witness, vote for us here
Delegate to us for passive income. Check our 80% fee-back Program
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @wittyzell ) sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.
Congratulations @wittyzell! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 6250 replies.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@hoosie(9/15) tipped @wittyzell (x1)
You can now send $PIZZA tips in Discord via tip.cc!
para ka na nasa langit noh @jijisaurart. 😂
Oh muy gosh, heaven for seafood lovers! 🤣 I will just bring mg meds haha!
😖
HAHAHAHA @jijisaurart might be missing something but the meds are there to rescue. LOL
@demotry talaga hahaha
😇
Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1814.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community: