“Enjoying Akashi’s ‘Uo no Tana Shopping Street’: Popular with Locals, Gourmet Dining and Snack Crawling”

Do you know about the “Uo no Tana Shopping Street” in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture?

I’ll introduce you to a hidden gem beloved by locals for strolling and snacking!

After walking through the shopping street, you can also enjoy a leisurely walk along the nearby coast, making it a recommended spot in the area.

Enjoy the Akashi Uo no Tana Shopping Street

A must-visit in Akashi is the “Fish Market Street,” locally known as “Uo no Tana.” It is one of Akashi’s iconic spots.

This vibrant shopping street, loved by both locals and tourists, was created around 400 years ago during the construction of Akashi Castle and the town planning by Miyamoto Musashi.

A 5-minute slow walk south from Akashi Station leads you to an arcade that stretches for 350 meters, housing 110 shops, primarily fishmongers and seafood vendors.

From sushi shops using fresh Akashi fish to snack bars and daytime drinking spots, we introduce the attractions and delights of the Fish Market from a local’s perspective.

Soft-simmered Akashi octopus and squid with roe are also delicious. Many shops offer tastings, so be sure to try them.

The highlight is definitely the daytime netting

When you think of Fish Market Street, the first thing that comes to mind is “fish.” The main attraction is the daytime netting (hiruami).

Generally, fish landed one day are sold in shops the next day, but at Fish Market’s daytime netting, fish caught in Akashi are auctioned right near the port at the daytime market and delivered directly to the shops. This means lively fish, like octopus and sea bream, that were swimming just before in the Akashi Strait are tightly lined up at the shops.

Speaking of octopus, Akashi is famous for its octopus, which, unlike the foreign ones we usually see at supermarkets, is quite differently priced. The octopus grown in the fast currents of the Akashi Strait is tight and plump, offering superb flavor. There are also shops that offer tastings, so consider trying them before buying.

Fish are generally lined up for sale from around 12:30 to 13:00 depending on the shop.

Shops selling slices and sashimi of sea bream often also sell sea bream collars, allowing you to get large, fresh Akashi sea bream collars at a good price.

Seasonal delicacies

At Fish Market Street, spring is heralded by the kohada shinko

Right in front of the Akashi Strait, the Fish Market is a treasure trove of fish. In addition to the famous “Akashi sea bream” and “Akashi octopus,” about 100 types of fish are landed seasonally, and the seafood eaten in its peak season is exceptional.

[Spring (March to May)] Spring icons such as “Kohada,” “Sea Bream,” “Spanish Mackerel,” “Rockfish,” “Horse Mackerel,” etc.
[Summer (June to August)] Akashi specialties such as “Octopus,” “Pike Conger,” “Conger Eel,” “Mackerel,” “Kawaebi,” etc.
[Autumn (September to November)] “Sea Bream,” “Cutlassfish,” “Flounder,” “Japanese Jack Mackerel,” “Swimming Crab,” etc.
[Winter (December to February)] “Pufferfish,” “Webfoot Octopus,” “Japanese Spanish Mackerel,” “Chub Mackerel,” “Sea Cucumber,” etc.

Gourmet Akashi-yaki (Egg Cake)

When you come to Akashi, you absolutely must try the local gourmet dish, Akashi-yaki (egg cake).

It is said that there are about 70 Akashi-yaki shops within the city.

In local Akashi, Akashi-yaki, also known as tamagoyaki (egg cake), is a traditional local dish where plenty of eggs are used along with a mixture of wheat flour and jinko powder, cooked on a copper plate specially for Akashi-yaki.

You might think, “Isn’t Akashi-yaki the same wherever you eat it?” Wait just a minute!

The ingredients for the batter, such as konbu and katsuobushi for the dashi, condiments, etc., vary by shop, so even though Akashi-yaki is a simple dish made with simple ingredients, the texture and flavor can vary significantly from shop to shop.

Trying different shops to find your favorite can be a fun experience.

All the shops at Fish Market Street are delicious, but if you’re unsure, here are some recommended can’t-miss shops.

Tako Iso

A popular shop in the Fish Market Street with an old-fashioned appearance that always has a long line.

There are two Tako Iso shops, with the second one located on a street just south, but this one has the atmosphere.

You can watch the skilled hands of the artisans cooking Akashi-yaki while you wait in line, making the wait enjoyable.

The menu includes classic Akashi-yaki with octopus (15 pieces for 700 yen), Akashi-yaki with conger eel (900 yen), and a mixed Akashi-yaki with octopus and conger eel (1,100 yen).

The fluffy and slightly sweet Akashi-yaki is popular.

Akashi Tamagoyaki Imanaka

The current shopfront of Imanaka, which has been in business for a long time but recently relocated to a new, clean shop.

Although not in the shopping street itself, it is located just a short walk from the shopping street.

The firm konbu-based dashi with trefoil blends perfectly with the fluffy and soft Akashi-yaki.

The menu is limited to Akashi-yaki and beverages, with 15 pieces for 700 yen. One plate per person is required.

The slightly salty, robust-flavored Akashi-yaki. Here, in addition to the standard sauce, you can also enjoy a change in flavor with rock salt, yuzu pepper, and seven-spice chili pepper.

The shop is small with few seats, so it’s recommended to go just before opening.

Enjoy Snacking at Fish Market Street

While it’s certainly recommended to sit down and enjoy a meal at a restaurant, it’s also fun to casually nibble on favorites while viewing the fresh seafood brought up in the daytime netting and walking through the lively Fish Market Street.

The long east-west arcade not only has fishmongers but also storefronts where oysters are grilled, large conger eel tempura, octopus rice, and croquettes from Kobe Motomachi, which always have long lines. When you come to Akashi, be sure to come hungry or you might regret it.

Eirakudo Fish Market Store ‘Pettan Yaki’

Eirakudo, a well-known tako senbei shop with 8 stores just in Akashi city.

At the Fish Market store, you can enjoy freshly baked Pettan Yaki.

Pettan Yaki is a popular senbei made by placing an entire spicy soy sauce-marinated webfoot octopus on the batter and sprinkling rich Parmesan cheese on top, then pressing it with a thick dedicated iron plate.

The giant senbei might be three times the size of your face, surprising you!

Since it contains an entire octopus, you can fully taste the deliciousness of the octopus.

They make it for you as soon as you order, so you can enjoy a hot, crispy, luxurious senbei.

The ‘Akashi Tako Senbei’ sold in the shop is also popular as a souvenir from Akashi.

Hase Kamaboko ‘Tempura’

An old-fashioned handmade kamaboko shop.

The freshly fried tempura made in the back of the shop is fluffy and so delicious you’ll want to eat several pieces.

While called tempura, it’s not the battered and fried tempura, but rather what’s known as ‘neri-ten’ (fried fish paste).

There are various types such as octopus, ginger, and squid tempura, but my personal recommendation is the classic ‘top tempura’. Simple yet full of deliciousness, you can keep eating piece after piece.

Hase Kamaboko’s tempura is also perfect as a souvenir from Fish Market Street. It pairs wonderfully with beer and sake!

Takahashiya ‘Quail Egg-Stuffed Skewered Octopus’

A truly Akashi-style gourmet, ‘Quail Egg-Stuffed Skewered Octopus’

About 5 cm sweet and spicy simmered Akashi webfoot octopus is skewered, and inside the head is surprisingly a quail egg.

Often seen on social media platforms like Instagram, this is a popular snack for walking and eating!

If you’re going to eat sushi in Fish Market Street

If you’re visiting Akashi, many people would want to eat the local fresh sushi.

In Fish Market Street, not only are there fishmongers, but there are also sushi shops using fresh Akashi ingredients.

Sushi Kirin

A stylish sushi shop that catches your eye.

If you want delicious sushi focusing on local ingredients from Akashi, where attention to detail shines in the chef’s skills in neta, shari, and balance, this is the place to go.

It might seem a bit upscale, but lunch is relatively affordable.

Sushi Shops within Fish Market Street

Soju (Sōju)・・・1-3-21-2-2F Honmachi, Akashi City
Sushi Enishi (Enishi)・・・1-5-1 2F Honmachi, Akashi City
Shinwa・・・1-1-20 Honmachi, Akashi City
Shaku Hachi Sushi (Shakuhachi Sushi)・・・1-4-23 Honmachi, Akashi City

Standing Bars at Fish Market

With so many shops you want to try at Fish Market, casually enjoying a quick drink at a standing bar is also recommended.

From deep, locals-only spots that might seem intimidating to chic Italian-style standing bars, there’s a wide variety.

Here are some standing bars where even first-timers can comfortably enjoy themselves.

Standing Bar Tanaka

A standing bar attached to the Tanaka liquor store.

Managed by the liquor store, you can enjoy reasonably priced sake selected from breweries all over Japan.

On weekends, people eagerly wait for the 12:00 opening, forming a line due to its immense popularity.

The secret to its popularity lies not only in the sake but also in the deliciousness of the dishes, which are unimaginable for a standing bar.

Even those who don’t drink alcohol can be satisfied with the fresh local fish and carefully made side dishes.

Standing Bar Donbei (Donbē)

Not in the shopping street itself, but just a little west after exiting the west exit of Fish Market (Uo no Tana), I introduce the super famous local spot “Standing Bar Donbei.”

The name “Donbei” and its somewhat old appearance might surprise you, but muster up some courage and give it a try.

Being a gathering place for discerning local fishermen, you can enjoy cheap and fresh fish dishes at a great value. Surprisingly, there are many female customers, so women can feel comfortable entering alone.

It’s the perfect spot for a quick, cost-effective drink.

It’s not just seafood and Akashi-yaki

Fish Market isn’t just about seafood and Akashi-yaki.

There’s a variety of other delicious foods as well.

Hatake Shop (Pickles)

From classic pickles like thousand-layer pickles to original and unusual pickles, you can buy seasonal pickles made with locally grown vegetables from Akashi’s four seasons.

The most popular is Hatake Shop’s original “Fusuma Nuka,” with each leaf of seasonal cabbage carefully spread with “Cabbage Fusuma Pickle,” perfect as a side dish for rice.

Kanebiki Produce (Vegetables & Fruit)

At the reasonably priced Kanebiki Produce, you’ll find over 100 types of fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits.

They also have a variety of old-fashioned handmade tofu.

Access to Fish Market Street

[By Train] Get off at JR/Sanyo Main Line Akashi Station, 3 minutes on foot

[By Car] From the Osaka direction, take the Hanshin Expressway → Exit at the Second Shinmei Daitokura IC, head towards “JR Akashi Station” “Sanyo Akashi Station”
From the Himeji direction, take the Second Shinmei Ikawadani IC, head towards “JR Akashi Station” “Sanyo Akashi Station”

Pedestrian deck
If you’re walking from Akashi Station, exit the south exit, go up to the second floor of the commercial building “Papios Akashi” in front of you using the escalator, and proceed via the pedestrian deck.

Even on rainy days, you can reach Fish Market Street without using an umbrella.

Akashi Luminous Hotel

MAP