Port of Yobuko

A seafarin', squid-lovin' town

Tristan Scholze Jul 13, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>A ship leaves port as a yacht returns</p>

<p>A statue commemorates the town's past history of whaling in front of the 250-year-old Nakao Mansion</p>

<p>Signboards with Japanese and English relate the history of the Nakao Mansion</p>

<p>The harbor is packed with interesting fishing vessels to explore from the town streets</p>

<p>This ferry runs to Ogawa Island, one of the several in the vicinity</p>

<p>Yobuko: Town of the Dancing Squid</p>

<p>At the main pier: the Zeela offers see-through hull tours out to Taka Island</p>

<p>Next to the Zeela is the Ikamaru, the boat resembling a squid, which travels out for views of the Nanatsugama, 7 pot-like caves in basalt sea cliffs</p>

<p>Although these outdoor beer vending machines are rarer in cities these days, you can still find them in small towns like Yobuko</p>

<p>A restaurant on the harbor; the windows in front on the left are for takeout orders</p>

<p>If you're not up for a sit-down meal, you can try some delicious gesoten (squid tempura) to go for a few hundred yen</p>

<p>The renown Morning Market is lined with shops selling fresh seafood and vegetables</p>

Yobuko’s natural harbor on the Genkai Sea, overlooked by ruins of the short-lived Nagoya Castle (Saga version) and its museum, has long been populated by families farming the deep. Although the small town of about 6,000 has a history of whaling, squid is now the main catch. In fact, Yobuko is famed for its fresh squid, and restaurants are what reel in the tourists here. But the harbor itself is worth the short walk along the fishing vessels and will give you an overview of the area.

Near the tour boats offering see-through hulls and visits to Nanatsugama, check out the morning fish market (7 to 11 am), running for a century now and said to be one of Japan’s “Big Three.”

呼子町—Yobuko-cho—Town of Yobuko
イカ—ika—squid
七ツ釜—Nanatsugama—group of seven pot-like sea caves
呼子朝市—Yobuko Asa Ichi—Yobuko Morning Market

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Tristan Scholze @tristan.scholze

I'm also known as Faer Out. I love learning about people and nature. I've traveled around the world and throughout Japan, and I hope to continue seeing and experiencing the wonder of this planet as long as I live.Based in Japan for nearly two decades, I'm a Japan Travel expert for Fukuoka and Sag...