Travel Tips ｜ Local Food
Tuna
A natural harbor created by a complex coastline
As Nachikatsuura Town and Katsuura Port are surrounded by the Noroshi Peninsula, underneath which hot spring veins run from north to south, and Ki-no-Matsushima and Naka-no-Shima islands, it’s a perfect natural harbor with gentle waves and deep water allowing large vessels to easily enter. Katsuura Fishing Port boasts the largest catch of fresh tuna by longline fishing in Japan. Fresh tuna means the tuna that is brought into the port has never been frozen. Tuna are caught using the long-line fishing method, then immediately preserved individually by the fishermen and kept at a low temperature in cold water while being transported into port.
©NACKT
Enjoying fresh seasonal tuna
The cells of frozen tuna break easily, and when the tuna thaws it leaks blood (drip), which causes a bad smell. In contrast, the cells of fresh tuna don’t break, so the tuna retains a chewy texture without a bad smell. In Nachikatsuura, tuna is lined up in rows in the fish market from early in the morning, and skilled experts bid in auctions for the highest quality tuna. Here in this town, you can enjoy a wide variety of fresh tuna all year round, including longfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, Pacific bluefin tuna (considered to be the diamond of the sea), and bigeye tuna with its refreshing taste. Complete Pacific bluefin tuna farming has been achieved in Nanki Kumano, and efforts are being made to enable consumption of tuna to continue while avoiding reducing the wild population.
For more information on tuna in Nachikatsuura, please contact the Nachikatsuura Tourism Organization.
Information about the Nachi-Katsuura Tourism Organization, a general incorporated association, is as follows:
| Address | Nachikatsuura Tourism Organization NACKT 〒649-5335 6-1-4 Tsukiji, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama, Japan |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | 9:00a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays（ Tourist Information Center is open all year round ） |
| Traffic Access |
By public transportation: From “Kii-Katsuura station” on the JR Kinokuni-line, walk for few minutes. By car: From Osaka/Wakayama, around 70 minutes’ drive from Susami Minami IC. |
| Contact | Nachikatsuura Tourism Organization NACKT TEL：0735-52-6153（ Office ） TEL：0735-52-5311（ Tourist Information Center ） Web：https://nachikan.jp/ |
| More information about Tuna in Nachikatsuura |
Kishu-Katsuura Fresh Tuna Map Web：https://maguromap.jp/ |
* Information is subject to change. Please be sure to check with the site/facility before heading out.
