Written by Jane Pipkin
A fresh seafood market, the biggest in Western Japan, where you can find fish from all around Japan and see live tuna-cutting demonstrations.
Free to enter, the market is divided into a few different sections: the Market Corner, Food and Snack Corner, Souvenir Corner, and BBQ Corner.
The Market Corner is where the daily fresh catches are on display — tuna, sashimi, and all kinds of seafood pulled straight from the boats. It’s worth a wander even if you’re not planning to buy anything, just to see the variety on offer.
The Food and Snack Corner is where you can sample things from the market, from seafood bowls to sushi to something grilled. If seafood isn’t what you’re craving, Cafe Toretore serves panda-themed comfort food, from omurice to curry, while Wood, Water, and Soil, another restaurant on-site, is the place to go for Panda Pancakes.
The BBQ Corner is where you can grill up fish, meat, and vegetables bought straight from the market yourself. Just remember to check in here first, before you buy anything, since it costs ¥1,000 per adult and ¥700 per child (drinks included).
The Souvenir Corner, full of local gifts from Wakayama, is worth saving some time for before you leave — pickled plums, panda merchandise, and local sweets are all popular picks, though there’s enough variety that it’s worth wandering for a while.
How to get there
Toretore Ichiba is located close to Shirahama Station. It’s an 8-minute bus ride on the 102 Loop Bus (costing ¥160). Alternatively, you can walk 24 minutes.
The market is a little further away from Nanki-Shirahama Airport, taking 34 minutes in total. Just jump on the 102 Loop Bus towards Sandanbeki and get off at Toretore-ichiba-mae. The bus ride costs ¥560.
