NOKKEDON
The Furukawa fish Market, also called “ The Gyosai center” is filled with tightly packed rows of vendors selling a staggering variety of fresh seafoods, vegetables and pickles from across Aomori prefecture.
But the thing that made it stand out, was the fun and unique way of experiencing the markets fresh ingredients, whereby customs can make their very own personalised bowl of rice and fish, called “Nokkedon” (literally translated as, “a bowl of rice from the beginning”).
Upon entering the market, head over to the information desk and purchase your coupons, sold in sets of 5 (540 yen) or 10 (1080 yen). You then trade the coupons with the fish merchants, for the fish you want (instead of paying). It makes the process of exploring the market and trying food far easier and more exciting. Seeing as I was hungry I purchased 10, grabbed my bowl of rice and set off walking around the market, going from counter to counter in search of the freshest looking fish I could find.
One coupon could be traded for a piece of Tuna, or Salmon – with more expensive fish such as Fatty Tuna costing two.
Delicious red tuna? Fine fresh slices of mackerel ? In exchange of 1, 2 or 3 coupon for a piece of fish I quickly filled my bowl with the freshest products from the seas of north Japan.
The market is conveniently littered with dining areas containing chopsticks, wasabi and soy sauce, and after filling my bowl with mostly tuna and salmon, I sat down to eat my ridiculously fresh bowl of sashimi.
The vendors were also very generous – perhaps as I was foreign – as I was handed free fish along my journey through the market. The Furuksawa Fish Market’s kind vendors, fresh fish and fun system easily make it one of the most enjoyable places I visited on my journey through Aomori, and perhaps the most pleasant fish market I’ve set foot in, in all of Japan.
WHERE: Furukawa market
ADDRESS: 1-11-16 Furukawa, Aomori-shi 030-0862, Aomori prefecture
