Mikuni Port in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is well known as the landing port for Fukui's prized Echizen crab and Fukui sweet shrimp. On July 12, the port's popular Sunday morning market, the "Mikuni Port Ippon-zuri Fishing Festival," returns. While bottom trawling is Mikuni Port's main fishing method, an offshore reef known as "Gentatsu-se" offers prime fishing grounds, and single-hook (ippon-zuri) fishing from small boats thrives there. In recent years, tuna have increasingly migrated through the Sea of Japan, and the festival's stalls fill with a wide variety of freshly landed fish. This year, the Mikuni Port food hall is introducing a yellowtail (buri) marinated rice bowl for the first time, alongside its seafood soup made generously with sweet shrimp. "With ippon-zuri fishing, what ends up on the tables depends on what the fishermen catch right up until the day before," says a market representative. "Come to the morning market and you might just find something amazing — that's part of the fun."
A Surprise at Every Stall — Which Fresh Fish Will Turn Up?
Highlights of the Ippon-zuri Fishing Festival
Tuna Block Sale
Whole bluefin tuna are sold so customers can see their full size and shape, with cuts packaged by portion and sold at low prices. Sales are first-come, first-served until stock runs out. Last year, a bluefin tuna landed at Mikuni Port that weighed over 100 kg was sold in blocks, drawing a line of 200 people before the early morning start time of 7:30 AM.
Price: approximately ¥1,000 (tax included) per pack, limited to three packs per person.
Mikuni Port Food Hall
Buri Marinated Rice Bowl (¥800 per serving, limited to 100 servings)
A generous rice bowl topped with large cuts of yellowtail marinated in an original sauce.
Seafood Soup (¥350 per serving)
A soup bowl packed with Mikuni Port's prized sweet shrimp.
A Morning Boost of Energy from the Mikuni High School Brass Band
Mikuni Port Morning Market Live Performance
The Mikuni High School Brass Band, which has achieved outstanding results at national brass band competitions, performs live at the market. The students' energetic performance fills the market and brings smiles and energy to the morning. (Performance times: first set from 9:00 AM, second set from 9:45 AM.)
In addition, a charcoal-grill booth is set up along the quay at the mouth of the Kuzuryu River, where visitors can grill seafood they've purchased over charcoal. Other stalls sell prepared foods such as fried chicken and tempura, along with dried fish and locally grown vegetables.
Mikuni Port Sunday Morning Market: Upcoming Schedule for the Year (Planned)
- August 2: Oshima Nade-ryo Festival (sale of turban shell tsuboyaki from the Oshima Fisheries Cooperative)
- September 20: Autumn Ama-Gasa Festival (sale of Mikuni Port's specialty sweet shrimp and gasa shrimp, plus all-you-can-pack sweet shrimp)
- September 27 and October 4: All-you-can-pack sweet shrimp
- October 11: Osakana (Fish) Festival
- December 27: The traditional year-end "Toshi no Ichi" market
Market Information
Hours: 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Inquiries: Mikuni Port Market (general incorporated association) — Phone: 0776-82-3921
