What is it?
Furukawa Fish Market is a bustling marketplace in the center of Aomori City. It is also known as the Aomori Gyosai Center. It's a public fish market with around 30 stalls, each with unique selections of fish.
Historical Background
The market has been serving fish since around the 1960s. Originally, only Aomori locals would go, but it has turned into a tourist spot in Aomori City. The custom donburi building system started in the early 2000s as a way to bring in more tourists and keep the market busy. It started out as a regular fish market.
Where is it
Furukawa fish market is located in Aomori prefecture, in Aomori city at 1 Chome-11-16 Furukawa, Aomori, 030-0862. It's about a 5-minute walk from Aomori Station.
How It Works
"There is a desk where you pay and select how many toppings and sides you would like. Then you will be given tickets for fish and a bowl of rice. You then go around to the different stalls and pick out whichever fish you would like, and give them however many tickets each item is worth. They have almost every type of fish and sea creature you can think of." (Cameron Moxley)
Photo by Cameron Moxley
Videos To Know More
[English-only]
Seafood bowl making video
[English-only]
Seafood bowl making video and review
[Japanese, English-generated subtitles]
Tour and review video
Videos of the seafood market
Characteristics
It's a very compact functioning fish market. While you can make your own donburi, it is not really a restaurant and has a very local feel and presence. It's not just another tourist attraction. Aomori is known for its fish, mainly its tuna, squid, and scallops. There is always seasonal fish for sale. It's not overcrowded like other fish markets, for example, Tuskiji in Tokyo, and is more family-run. It's very casual and affordable.
https://japan-navi-journey.com/column/501/
Photo by Cameron Moxley
Direct Voice from Cameron Moxley
"I found the fish market to be a very welcoming and lively environment. It is right in the heart of Aomori, so you are able to see the rest of Aomori City easily. The fish was of very high quality and worth the price. I would recommend this place to anyone going to Aomori. It feels very local, and the people working and selling there are very friendly. It is also a good example of Aomori's history and local food/fish" (Cameron Moxley)
References
Aomori Prefecture. (n.d.). Furukawa Fish Market Nokke-don. https://aomori-tourism.com/en/spot/detail_1891.html
Japan-guide. (n.d.). Furukawa Fish Market – Aomori Gyosai Center. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3758.html
Japan National Tourism Organization. (n.d.). Furukawa Fish Market Aomori Gyosai Senta (Furukawa Fish Market). https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1846/
Japan-Navi Journey. (n.d.). Column 501 [Nokke-don ni tsuite] [Column 501: About Nokke-don]. https://japan-navi-journey.com/column/501/
Nokkedon Co., Ltd. (n.d.). Ganso Aomori Nokke-don [Original Aomori Nokke-don]. https://nokkedon.jp/
Tanaka, A. (2020, June 22). Aomori-ken "Furukawa Ichiba" hisshoku jijo kaisen ryori? [Aomori Prefecture "Furukawa Market" must-eat self-service seafood dish?]. FUN! JAPAN. https://www.fun-japan.jp/hk/articles/10810