Build your own luxury seafood feast at Tsugaru Kawaguchi Market in Aomori — an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet!

▲The All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Rice Bowl at Tsugaru Kawaguchi Market

Reported and photographed by Yu Jiayun / Aomori, Japan

Located in Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost part of Japan’s main island, this region is surrounded by the Tsugaru Strait, the Sea of Japan, and the Pacific Ocean, making it possible to enjoy freshly caught seafood all year round. The waters where cold and warm currents meet are rich in diverse marine life, and Aomori is also Japan’s top producer of scallops. If you want to start your day with a hearty bowl of luxurious seafood rice, don’t miss out on the “All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Rice Bowl” at Tsugaru Kawaguchi Market. With a ticket in hand, you can choose whatever you like and build a tower of seafood in your bowl!

▲Aomori is Japan’s top scallop-producing region.

Tsugaru Kawaguchi Market in Aomori is known as the “kitchen of Aomori citizens.” Located near the harbor, it began offering fresh fish, seafood, and an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet to provide breakfast options for local fishermen. It is a fruit and vegetable market. Unlike typical restaurants where you order from a menu, here you can choose everything from the rice portion to the toppings yourself. Simply buy a set of 5 or 10 meal vouchers in advance, and then use the vouchers to get the seafood or side dishes you want.

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▲Purchasing a meal ticket at the market.

At the market, nearly every seafood stall displays trays filled with various types of N<.<,,.,,,,.,,.

▲Scallops are plump and perfectly round.

▲%There is a wide variety of fresh seafood to choose from.%

As you move from stall to stall, your originally empty bowl gradually becomes more and more full, eventually turning into your very own custom seafood N<. This market allows you to simply find a seat and sit down to enjoy the fresh seafood in front of you, served with soft and chewy Japanese rice — truly a delightful way to start the morning. After your meal, you can also pick up some dried goods and souvenirs in the market to bring the flavors of Aomori back home.

▲Just 10 meal tickets get you a truly luxurious meal.

Tsugaru Kawaguchi Market
Address: Aomori Fish and Vegetable Center, 1-11-16 Kawaguchi, Aomori 030-0862
Business hours: All-You-Can-Eat Seafood N< Price: 10 meal tickets for ¥1,300