Hachinohe and Morning Markets
In downtown Hachinohe, there are many neighborhoods that were named after the day of the market that was held when Hachinohe thrived as a castle town, such as Mikkaimachi (3rd-day town) and Youkamachi (8th-day town). It is said that these remnants of the market days, when the streets were bustling as fresh vegetables and seafoods brought in from nearby farming and fishing villages were sold, are the origins of the morning markets that we see today all across the city.
Tatehana Ganpeki Asaichi
(Tatehana Wharf Morning Market)
Tatehana Wharf Morning Market is a massive morning market on a vast wharf that is only open on early Sunday mornings. More than 300 vendors line the 800m-long market, and it is one of the largest markets in Japan with over 10,000 visitors every week.
Whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it here - the market sells practically everything: seafood, such as Hachinohe's fresh and dried fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers, as well as a variety of side dishes, and there are also many coffee shops and vendors that sell pastries, baked goods, knives, antiques, sewing machines, and much more. Visitors enjoy their time at the market in a variety ways, such as buying breakfast or chatting with a friend.
Visit the huge, breath taking Tehana Wharf Morning Market, and spend a morning that can only be experienced in Hachinohe.
| Address | Tatehana Wharf, Shin-Minato, Hachinohe City |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0178-27-3868 (Minato Sunday Morning Market Cooperative) |
| Hours | Open every Sunday, March 18 – December, from dawn until around 9:00 AM. * The market is open on special days during the Obon and New Year’s holidays. * The market will be open on Thursday, May 3, 2018. * The market will be closed on Sunday, May 13, 2018, for the Umineko Marathon. * The market will be open for two days for the Obon holiday, on August 11 (Sat) and August 12. |
| Regular Holidays | Closed from January through mid-March |
| Access | By car: 20 minutes from Hachinohe Expressway, Hachinohe IC, 25 minutes from JR Hachinohe Station, 10 minutes from downtown Hachinohe By train: 10-minute walk from JR Hachinohe Line Mutsuminato Station By bus: Isaba Sunday Morning Market Loop Bus - "Tatehana-gyoko-mae" bus stop |
| Parking | 500 spaces |
| Homepage | http://minatonichiyouasaichikai.com/ |
Unique finds at Tatehana Wharf Morning Market
Gummy Larva（1）:Life-like appearance and texture have made this gummy larva very popular. Hurry before they are sold out!
Gummy Larva（2）
Fishermen's exfoliation net:Purchase an exfoliation net at the morning market and make your way straight to the bath house!
Deep-fried food:Long-queues and bulk purchases are common sights at deep-fried food vendors.
Steamed soup dumpling:The steamed soup dumpling vendor is worth lining up for. Bite into the dumpling and savor its juicy filling.
Bread: There are multiple bakers as well. Their breads sell out very quickly.
Fruits（1）:Apples and pears harvested in nearby areas are sold here. Their locations and displays are quite unique.
Grilled fish: And of course, there is the charcoal-grilled fish that is the specialty of Hachinohe.
Ikadon: The mysterious, unofficial mascot of Tatehana Wharf Morning Market. It seems like it has a family. The one in the photo is "Mother Ikadon."
Mutsuminato Ekimae Asaichi
(Morning Market in front of Mutsu-Minato Station)
Mutsuminato Station Morning Market has served as the kitchen of Hachinohe ever since the end of World War II. With the Hachinohe Municipal Fish & Vegetable Retail Market at its center, retailers and wholesalers line the Ekimae Street where the morning market takes place. This morning market, where the voices of "Isabanokaccha" (the local name for women who sell fish) and the idyllic atmosphere of the port fill the air, becomes a vibrant place packed with chefs purchasing ingredients, locals, tourists, and many other visitors.
The best part of Mutsuminato Morning Market is the original breakfast you can create by combining the sashimi and side dishes that you just purchased from the market with rice and miso soup. Having breakfast in the market is a uniquely special experience.
| Address | In front of Mutsuminato Station, Minatomachi, Hachinohe City |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0178-33-6151 (Hachinohe Municipal Fish & Vegetable Retail Market) |
| Hours | 3:00 AM-12:00 Noon |
| Regular Holidays | Sundays, New Year holidays (The Hachinohe Municipal Fish & Vegetable Retail Market is also closed on the second Saturday of the month) |
| Access | By car: 20 minutes from Hachinohe Expressway, Hachinohe IC, 25 minutes from JR Hachinohe Station, 10 minutes from downtown Hachinohe By train: Near JR Hachinohe Line Mutsuminato Station Bus: Hachinohe City Bus / Nanbu Bus - 3-minute walk from the "Kaminakamichi" bus stop |
| Parking | No parking (Parking is available in the neighborhood) |
What you need to know for "Asameshi-dokoro Uosai" at Hachinohe Municipal Fish & Vegetable Retail Market
-10 Rules for Morning Market Breakfast-
No. 1: Go between 5:00~10:00 am on weekdays and Saturdays.
No. 2: Purchase sashimi, side dishes, etc. at the market.
No. 3: Don't buy too much just because it is cheap. If going in a group, sharing is the way to go.
No. 4: When buying fish roe, such as cod roe and salted salmon roe, try asking, "Can I have 100-yen worth of the roe"? You'll sound like a market pro!
No. 5: Get great deals while enjoying a conversation with Isabanokaccha (women selling fish).
No. 6: Once you have purchased sashimi and side dishes of your choice, head on to "Asameshi-dokoro Uosai" at the back of the market and purchase rice and miso soup to complete your own morning market breakfast!
No. 7: Types and prices of miso soup will vary by day. Enjoy the season's best soup!
No. 8: Check out which freshly grilled fish is available, and order if there is still space in your stomach.
No. 9: Express your gratitude for the bounty of Hachinohe's ocean by savoring the meal to the last bite.
No. 10: Finish off your dining experience with coffee or the local "Mishima Cider."
Column「List of Morning Markets in Hachinohe」
| Morning Market in front of Mutsu-Minato Station | |
|---|---|
| Location | In front of Mutsuminato Station |
| Season/Time | All year round (Closed on Sundays, Second Saturday of the month, New Year holiday) 3:00AM to Noon |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 100 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Municipal Fish & Vegetable Retail Market TEL 0178-33-6151 Kutsu no Miura (Miura Shoes) TEL 0178-33-1492 |
| Tatehana Wharf Morning Market | |
| Location | Tatehana Wharf |
| Season/Time | March 13 to end of December Every Sunday Dawn to about 9:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 300 |
| Contact information | Minato Sunday Morning Market Cooperative (Uemura) TEL 0178-27-3868 TEL 090-4636-7523 |
| Hachinohe Newtown Morning Market | |
| Location | Grand Sunpia Hachinohe Parking Lot |
| Season/Time | Early April to end of November Every Saturday 5:00 to 7:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 30 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Newtown Morning Market Cooperative TEL 0178-43-3838 |
| Machi & Oka no Asaichi (Machi & Oka Morning Market) | |
| Location | Grand Sunpia Hachinohe Parking Lot |
| Season/Time | Every day (except for Saturdays) from early April to early December Dawn to 7:00AM (weekdays) Dawn to 7:30AM (Sundays and holidays) |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 30 |
| Contact information | Machi & Oka no Asaichi-kai TEL 0178-96-4149 |
| Minato-Yamate Street Morning Market | |
| Location | Minato-Yamate Street |
| Season/Time | Mid March to December Every Sunday 4:00 to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 50 |
| Contact information | Minato-Yamate Morning Market Cooperative TEL 0178-33-7348 |
| Hachinohe Umineko Morning Market | |
| Location | Rising Koyo Parking Lot |
| Season/Time | All year round Every Saturday Dawn to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 70 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Umineko Morning Market Cooperative TEL 0178-51-9245 TEL 090-3366-3371 (Akasaka) |
| Johgen-ji Temple Friday Morning Market | |
| Location | Johgen-ji Temple parking lot |
| Season/Time | March to December Every Friday Dawn to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 10 to 15 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Umineko Morning Market Cooperative TEL 0178-51-9245 TEL 090-3366-3371 (Akasaka) |
| Hachinohe Station Morning Market | |
| Location | In front of Hachinohe Station |
| Season/Time | April to November Every Sunday 4:00 to 6:30AM |
| No. of vendors | 10 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Station Morning Market Cooperative (Ogasawara) TEL 0178-27-2899 |
| Miyagisan Sunday Morning Market | |
| Location | Miyagisan Shrine |
| Season/Time | April to November Every Sunday 5:00 AM to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | 7 |
| Contact information | TEL 090-4636-6787 (Kurosaka) |
| Choja Morning Market | |
| Location | Choja Matsuringu Park |
| Season/Time | April to December Every Saturday 4:30 to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | 8 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Morning Market Cooperative TEL 090-2272-5592 |
| Hachinohe Afternoon Market | |
| Location | Choja Matsuringu Park |
| Season/Time | April to December Every Friday and Saturday 2:00 to 5:00PM |
| No. of vendors | 18 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Afternoon Market Office TEL 090-3750-0056 (Kudo) |
| Chojya Matsuringu Morning Market | |
| Location | Choja Matsuringu Park |
| Season/Time | March to end of November Every Tuesday and Wednesday Dawn to 8:00AM |
| No. of vendors | Approximately 10 |
| Contact information | Hachinohe Morning Market Promotion Council/ Committee TEL 090-3750-0056 (Kudo) |
Column「The Public Bath Culture of Hachinohe」
Aomori has one of the highest number of public bathhouses per capita in Japan. There are still over 30 public bathhouses (known as Sento) operating within the city of Hachinohe. People of Hachinohe are known for their love of public bathhouses, preferring them over their own bath at home. Some even keep their bathing essentials in their cars.
What makes public bathhouses in Hachinohe unique is the fact that they are open from very early in the morning. The likely reason for this is that public bathhouses in Hachinohe open early to serve fishermen who are coming back from the ocean in the morning. In Japan, it is rare for public bathhouses to be open early in the morning, and it has garnered much attention from the media.
After spending time at a morning market, why not go to a public bathhouse and start off your day feeling refreshed? That's how the Hachinohe locals do it!
Experience the early morning culture of Hachinohe with a convenient "Hachinohe Asaguru" plan!
"Hachinohe Asaguru" is available to hotel guests in Hachinohe, and allows you to tour morning markets and public bathhouses by taxi. Departing the hotel early in the morning, enjoy breakfast and shopping at a morning market and then relax by soaking in a bath at a public bathhouse. You will be back to your hotel while it is still morning. It is a very popular early-morning sight seeing excursion for those who have to work during the day.
For details on "Hachinohe Asaguru,"
please visit the website:http://www.hachinohe-cb.jp/asaguru/
