Catch your own fish to eat here—and enjoy all-you-can-drink cocktails at the fishing boat teahouse in Japan!

Text and photos by /Mika

Now let us introduce this reportedly brand-new style of izakaya in Japan, the fishing boat teahouse, where you can eat, drink, and even go fishing. The pricing model is as follows: one person per table pays a minimum charge of ¥3,000–¥3,500 for all-you-can-drink cocktails and a meal set. For an additional ¥2,750, you can try catching three kingfish. If you succeed, it costs ¥2,750; if you don’t, you still get to eat three fish—but the price becomes ¥3,600.

When someone catches a fish, the staff will shout in Japanese, “Wow!! You’re amazing, you caught such a big fish!!” and then start clapping and beating drums in celebration. The whole experience is really exciting. Especially for those of us who rarely fish, catching your own fish gives you an incredible sense of achievement. As soon as it’s caught, it’s taken straight to be cooked—before you know it, that live fish has transformed right before your eyes into a delicious dish. It’s a bit of life and death, but honestly, it tastes so good. Fresh and flavorful—you just have to push the guilt aside and focus on the fun and flavor.

On our trip through “Fukuoka” and “Oita,” we experienced the Kyushu Nishitetsu Bus Tour. With the SunQ Pass, we traveled all over Kyushu. We also used the Fukuoka GREEN PASS one-day bus ticket to ride unlimited times within the Fukuoka city area. The SunQ Pass covers both North Kyushu (Oita, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto) and all of Kyushu, allowing rides on express and local buses, filling in the gaps where JR trains don’t go. You can even take ferries to islands like Sakurajima, or head as far as Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi.

Purchasing the SunQ Pass in Taiwan also comes with a 25% discount for foreigners. Just bring your Taiwan-purchased ticket to Fukuoka Airport to get it stamped with the date to activate it. Be sure to check the schedules in advance to see if any long-distance trips on your itinerary—like highway buses—require seat reservations. Otherwise, you can ride any bus marked with the SunQ Pass logo as many times as you want.Fukuoka hotel booking link:https://goo.gl/dJKzcA

The Fishing Boat Teahouse has a total of 13 branches. For details, please visit their official website. Because business is really booming, it’s recommended to make a reservation on the official site in advance if you plan to go, to avoid not getting a seat. Today we visited the Kyushu Fukuoka Tenjin branch. Using the Fukuoka GREEN PASS one-day bus ticket, you can ride the Kyushu Nishitetsu Buses unlimited times and explore all the sights in Fukuoka. Take the bus to either Akasaka or Tenjin Station, then walk about 15 minutes to reach the teahouse.

There’s an outdoor fireplace outside—if it gets cold while you’re out in winter, this is super thoughtful and practical.

As soon as I walked in, I was blown away!! Inside what looks like a normal building, there are actually two boats!! In a space about the size of a warehouse, there are two large wooden boats over pools of water. The transparent, clean water holds many plump, juicy fish.

Both adults and children can experience the fun of fishing. On top of the minimum charge, you can pay an extra ¥2,750 to try catching three kingfish. If you catch them, it’s ¥2,750; if not, you still get to eat three fish—but it costs ¥3,600. You absolutely have to try the experience of catching the fish you’re going to eat. If I weren’t so busy taking photos, I would’ve loved to give it a try myself!!

You can only see how huge these two boats are from this angle—and they’re indoors!!!!! Isn’t that seriously cool? I’d love to see this kind of restaurant open in Taiwan—it’d be insanely popular.

You’ll get a better feel for the lively atmosphere through the video footage.

The decor here is super bold—it really has the vibe of a fishing spot, except it’s all indoors. No need to worry about wind, sun, or rain. You can leisurely fish, drink (all you can drink), and eat freshly caught fish. It’s truly delicious, fun, and enjoyable!

As mentioned earlier, the pricing model is one person per table pays a minimum charge of ¥3,000–¥3,500 for all-you-can-drink cocktails and a meal set. You can choose from various set menu options, with different combinations based on the price. But the highlight is definitely the all-you-can-drink cocktails and drinks!!

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

I felt the waitstaff must be exhausted—they have to catch the fish customers hook, take them to the kitchen to cook, cheer “so amazing,” play the drums, and also help serve food.

This is salad, with crispy fried wonton skins on top that are fragrant and crunchy.

Forgot what kind of hot pot this was—the focus of the day was all on fishing and drinking, so I don’t remember what I ate. I just recall that when noodles were added at the end and the soup was sipped, it was rich, sweet, and warming.

This place is all about drinking!! Anyway, you can order whatever cocktails or drinks you want. What a waste not to try the most expensive ones!!

Saury stuffed with Kyushu’s famous mentaiko (spicy cod roe)—salty, savory, and perfect with rice or drinks. Flavorful and delicious.

Joy from RiMeng International caught two kingfish all by herself—everyone cheered for her.

The atmosphere when someone catches a fish is seriously electric, giving the angler an incredible sense of pride. Not only do they celebrate with drumbeats, but they also shout, “Wow!! You’re amazing, you caught such a big fish!!” Even neighboring tables join in the applause and cheers!

This kingfish is so huge—super plump and juicy.

Look how busy he is—he’s the busiest person there!! And he’s moonlighting as a drummer too XD

You have to watch the video to feel the joyful atmosphere of catching fish.

It’s truly caught and cooked on the spot~~~~~ In the blink of an eye, the live fish becomes a dish on your plate. But the fresh sashimi is seriously tender, sweet, and bouncy—so delicious.

This fish died beautifully and for a great cause!! The flesh is crystal clear, fragrant, chewy, sweet—and so tasty that even I, someone who doesn’t usually eat sashimi, fell in love with it.

We caught a total of three fish, which were prepared as sashimi, deep-fried, and braised. No matter how it’s cooked, the fish is ridiculously delicious—the texture is so tender and fresh, leaving us with unforgettable flavors.

Braised dishes also offer a savory and sweet flavor profile, with the smooth, tender, and delicate fish being absolutely delicious no matter how it's cooked. I highly recommend this latest Japanese fishing boat teahouse — it guarantees you'll drink to your heart's content, fish happily, and eat to your satisfaction!

Fishing Boat Teahouse "Zaouo" (Tenjin Branch)
Address: Japan 0810-0072 Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Nagahama 1-chome 4-15
Phone: 092-716-9988 (FAX: 092-716-9989)
Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:00) / Holidays 11:30–23:00 (last order 22:00)
Official Website: http://www.zauo.com/en/howto/
Access: About a 15-minute walk from Akasaka or Tenjin Station

Going out is to return to where you were with a deeper understanding.
MIKA’s Adventure Food Diary