There’s more to Itoshima than just oysters! Known for one of the largest red sea bream (madai) catches in Japan, Itoshima is set to host the Itoshima Madai Fair, celebrating the opening of the red sea bream fishing season.
（一社）糸島市観光協会
Following the prohibition period from January to April, the red sea bream fishing season in Itoshima has concluded. The traditional “Gochiami fishing” method, involving drawing nets, is now used to catch the red sea bream. With the fresh red sea bream landed in Itoshima, local restaurants and processors will present an array of original menus that highlight the “natural red sea bream of Itoshima”.
Visitors can savor a plethora of red sea bream dishes at 24 restaurants scattered throughout Itoshima. Offerings range from sashimi, simmered and grilled red sea bream, to red sea bream rice, red sea bream chazuke, red sea bream sandwiches, red sea bream burgers, red sea bream ramen, and much more.
For those looking to bring home a piece of this experience, we recommend the “Itoshima Miso Butter Red Sea Bream,” a beloved product by JF Itoshima, the “Itoshima Men Tai,” which is red sea bream mixed with cod roe, and the “Dashi Soup Red Sea Bream”.
It’s worth noting that from 2012 to 2019, Itoshima held the record for the highest catch of natural red sea bream in Japan for eight consecutive years, far surpassing the second place. However, as of 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has ceased the release of statistical surveys, so we can no longer claim this title. Nonetheless, Itoshima’s red sea bream remains a prized delicacy.
Itoshima Madai Fair
• 6/1 (Thu.) ~ 6/30 (Fri.)
• Itoshima City Tourism Association official website
• Participating stores (Google Map)
（一社）糸島市観光協会
Products using Itoshima red sea bream and stores where red sea bream can be purchased.
Ito Sai Sai
• 9:00~18:00
• Closed: only new year’s
• 567 Hatae, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• https://ja-itoshima.or.jp/itosaisai/
Shima no Shiki
• 8:30~17:00
• Closed: obon holiday, new year’s
• 33-1 Shima-Tsuwazaki, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• https://shimanoshiki.jp/about/
Fuku Fuku no Sato
• 9:00~17:00
• Closed: obon holiday, new year’s
• 6333 Nijo-Fukui, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• https://fukufuku-sato.com/
Yamasue direct sales shop
• 10:00~17:00
• Closed: every Thu. (except hol.)
• 523-1 Taku, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• https://www.yamasue.ne.jp/shop-info/
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