🟠 Local-First — Best in its home region: Fukuoka.
Last updated: 2025-12-05
Introduction
Facing the Genkai Sea, Hakata is a true “sea city.” Here, freshly caught fish from the morning market appear on lunch tables by noon, sustaining a vibrant live-seafood culture that includes sesame mackerel, live horse mackerel, and filefish with liver. Among them, translucent “ika sashimi” (raw squid) perfectly represents Hakata’s coastal richness. Without traveling all the way to the port town of Yobuko, visitors can enjoy squid landed that very day right in Hakata. 🦑
What to Try
Order the local yari-ika (spear squid). Because it’s served within hours of being caught, the flesh remains clear and delightfully crisp. As time passes it gradually turns white—making the transparent state a privilege unique to the region. After finishing the sashimi, many restaurants offer the tentacles and empera (fins) lightly tempura-fried for a second course—an elegant encore of Hakata’s sea flavor. 🍤
How to Order
Ask at the counter, “Do you have live squid today?” During the season (spring through autumn), you’ll likely find it. The chef removes it from the tank and prepares it to order, so expect about ten minutes’ wait. Prices vary with market conditions but usually range from ¥3,000–4,000 per serving. Don’t forget to request the “after-dish” tempura of tentacles. Most places are cash-only, though card payment is increasingly accepted in central Hakata. 💴
Tokyo or Trip?
Some high-end Tokyo restaurants fly in live squid, yet only in Hakata can you taste the translucent flesh at its just-caught freshness. Without traveling to Yobuko, you can experience the flavor of the Genkai Sea within the same day—an urban Local-First experience. In Hakata, a city that moves to the rhythm of the sea, that fleeting moment of transparency is something to savor in person. 🌊
Explore Nearby
- Hakata Ramen — Silky Tonkotsu 🍜
- Hitokuchi Gyoza — Bite-Size 🥟
- Goma Saba — Sesame Mackerel 🐟
- Nagasaki Champon — Local Diner Comfort 🍜
- Okinawa Soba — Island Comfort 🍜
Similar Dishes
- Hakata-Style Tempura in Tokyo — Wakataka’s Counter Set 🍤
- Hakata Motsunabe in Togoshi-Ginza — Charcoal-kissed offal hotpot 🍲
- Toyosu-Fresh Chutoro at a Hidden Izakaya in Togoshi-Ginza 🐟
About "Taste of Japan"
Hello, I'm Yuta.
Born in landlocked Yamanashi and having lived in the gourmet city of Sendai for 10 years, I now call Togoshi-Ginza home. My frequent business trips across Japan allow me to constantly explore the diversity of regional flavors.
Why Togoshi-Ginza?
This street is Tokyo’s longest shopping arcade (about 1.3 km), but it holds a special history. It was the very first street in Japan to adopt the "Ginza" name—a tradition that later spread across the country—after receiving bricks from the famous Ginza district following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
My Wish as a Local
I am not a culinary expert. However, as a Japanese local who knows both the convenience of Tokyo and the origins of regional food, I want to share the "atmosphere" and "personal feelings" that you won't find in standard guidebooks.
The Concept: "Tokyo or Trip?"
Visiting every region of Japan in a single trip is nearly impossible. Some food experiences are worth the travel to the source, while others offer a fully satisfying experience right here in Tokyo.
This blog is a guide to help you make that choice. Based in Togoshi-Ginza, I share my honest experiences and "my personal answer" to help you maximize your culinary journey in Japan.
- 🟠 Local-First: Best experienced in its home region. Worth a trip.
- 🟢 Great-in-Tokyo: A nationwide favorite or regional specialty that offers a fully satisfying, authentic experience right here in Tokyo.
- 🟣 Tokyo-Do-Must: A unique food culture born in or exclusive to Tokyo.