9 days in Japan- 6/23- 7/1/2024

Day 2-Fish Market-6/24/2024

The next morning, before heading to the fish market, we wandered around Niigata West Port.

Before we even reached the main harbor, the scenery shifted into something quieter and more intimate. A long, narrow canal stretched out in front of us, bordered by a raised concrete boardwalk that followed the water’s edge. Small boats were tied neatly alongside it, their white hulls resting close together, ropes looped around metal posts, gently tapping against the sides whenever the water moved..

Ahead, the canal slowly opened up, and the scale changed. The small boats gave way to much larger ships, solid and imposing, anchored closer to the harbor. Beyond them stood a large white building near the water, clean and bright against the industrial shapes of cranes and docks around it, marking the transition from this quiet canal world into the wide, working space of Niigata’s port.

Fishing boats docked next to the harbor.

On the opposite bank of the river is the central part of Niigata City’s waterfront area, including popular market areas near the port.

This area is part is part of the Pier Bandai / Minato Marche Pier Bandai area. This lively waterfront market zone sits near Niigata Port and the mouth of the river, and it’s one of the city’s main spots for fresh seafood, local produce, sake, and other regional foods right next to the water.  There is a fish market, a meat market, and a vegetable market.

The fish market is located where the Shinano River widens and meets the sea, which makes it a natural hub for fishing and seafood commerce.

Stepping into Minato Marche Pier Bandai, the fish market came to life with colors, smells, and movement.

 It’s not just a single stall but a whole market district right by the water where people come to buy fresh seafood, local produce, and Niigata specialties.

All around us were rows of stalls selling fresh catches from the Sea of Japan

This market isn’t just for tourists, local residents come here too to buy ingredients for their own meals, pick up seasonal produce, or grab lunch from one of the casual eateries tucked between the stalls.

A stall with rows of fresh salmon, already sliced into thick, perfect cuts, their silver skin still shining along the edges. They were neatly packed in clear trays, the orange flesh glowing under the lights, so clean and fresh it almost looked unreal.

Next to them were displays of sashimi, carefully arranged and ready to be eaten, tuna, salmon, scallops, and other seafood laid out like small works of art.

The sashimi looks amazing.  People can pick up this packages for lunch.

All the seafood was prepared with such care, wrapped and labeled, waiting to be taken home or enjoyed right away. It felt very different from a supermarket back home; this was seafood at its source, just hours from the water. Watching locals choose their trays and vendors restock the ice, I could really feel how deeply seafood is woven into everyday life here in Niigata.

Unagi and, fresh Uni, and salmon roe.

Pre-cooked fish.

Tuna and Octopus.

Another stall displayed piles of snow crabs, their shells glowing in shades of deep red and orange, stacked high like something from a painting. Their long legs were spread wide, glossy and bright, making the whole display impossible to ignore.

They looked almost too beautiful to eat, carefully arranged to show off their size and color.

So many stalls inside with fresh seafood.

We are now leaving the Fish Market

When we stepped back outside, the air changed again, this time filled with the smoky, savory smell of grilling seafood. Near the walkway stood a simple metal BBQ grill, where whole fish were skewered on sticks and lined up over hot coals. Their skins slowly blistered and browned, fat dripping onto the fire with a soft crackling sound.

It looks so appetizing!

It felt wonderfully local and unpolished: fresh seafood inside on ice, and just a few steps away, fish being grilled the old-fashioned way, ready to be eaten right there by the harbor with the river and sea nearby.

After that, we wandered into an area filled with small shops and food stalls, gathered around an open courtyard near the vegetable market.

The entrance of the Vegetables market.

In front of the Vegetables market there are a of bunch tables and benches were people could sit and eat what they had just bought. Some were enjoying seafood bowls from the fish stalls, others grilled fish or snacks from nearby shops. It felt relaxed and communal, like an outdoor dining room for the whole market.

We are now leaving the area and heading to Downtown Niigata.

NEXT... Downtown Niigata(coming soon)