Niigata’s Popular Gourmet Spot! Savor the Bounty of the Sea at Teradomari Fish Market Street!

Located in the coastal area of Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Teradomari Fish Market Street—nicknamed “Uo no Ameyoko” (Fish Ameyoko)—is a popular tourist destination where you can find not only freshly caught local seafood but also marine products from all over Japan. Always bustling with people enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and fresh delicacies from the sea, it offers seafood at reasonable prices for souvenirs, or you can savor aromatic hamayaki (grilled seafood) while strolling in the sea breeze of the Sea of Japan. There are many ways to enjoy this spot. Here are some recommended places along Teradomari Fish Market Street.

1. Enjoy Plump Red Snow Crab at “Teradomari Chuo Suisan”

At the crab and fresh fish specialty store Teradomari Chuo Suisan, you’ll find an array of freshly caught seasonal seafood! Just seeing the freshly boiled crabs lined up at the storefront will lift your spirits. Their top-selling red snow crab is the star attraction, alongside king crab, horsehair crab, sweet shrimp, salmon roe, and many more.
The freshly boiled snow crab is packed with meat and full of rich crab miso. Thanks to the direct-from-market prices unique to Teradomari Fish Market Street, you can fully savor the taste of crabs from the Sea of Japan.
In addition to crabs, many skewered hamayaki are displayed in front of the store—whole grilled mackerel or flounder, shrimp, squid, whelk, and more—grilled again over a mesh after purchase so you can enjoy them warm. The savory aroma of the special sauce is irresistible. In summer, visitors also come for salt-grilled ayu or fresh rock oysters.

2. Savor Fragrant Hamayaki! “Hamayaki Center Kinpachi”

When it comes to Teradomari Fish Market Street, hamayaki is a must-try specialty. Hamayaki Center Kinpachi, marked by its big red crab sign, is right in front of the crosswalk leading into the market from the parking lot. The live tanks in front are filled with large snow crabs delivered fresh every day, and seeing them boiled in a huge pot on-site only adds to the excitement.
The hamayaki menu is extensive—grilled fish, clams, scallops, turban shells, grilled conger eel, and blackthroat seaperch, to name a few. The savory flavor of Kinpachi’s special sauce and the rich taste that spreads in your mouth will exceed your expectations. Pair it with a bowl of miso soup made with fresh crab for an even better experience.

3. For Fresh Scallops and Raw Oysters, Visit “Yamaroku Suisan”

If you want to enjoy seafood raw, Yamaroku Suisan is the place to go. The storefront is lined with various kinds of seafood, and the fresh oyster and scallop section has signs indicating “Can be eaten in-store.” Ask the staff, and they’ll quickly shuck the shellfish so you can savor oysters or scallops that were just displayed moments ago.
To enjoy the pure taste of oysters, eat them plain—the briny flavor of the sea will fill your mouth, and you’ll relish the silky, creamy texture.
For scallops, adding a dash of soy sauce enhances the sweetness of the meat, while the chewy texture of the fringe is another delight unique to fresh scallops. Once you’ve tasted fresh shellfish here, you may find it hard to be satisfied with supermarket seafood again.

4. Popular for Processed Seafood! “Seiki Shoten”

If you’re looking for processed seafood to take home as souvenirs from Teradomari Fish Market Street, Seiki Shoten is worth visiting. Their soy-marinated salmon roe and cold wind-dried salmon are popular even at Niigata specialty fairs in department stores nationwide. These products are well-regarded not only for home use but also as gifts.
Their most popular section features Niigata’s local dish, yakizuke. The yakizuke salmon—grilled and then marinated in soy-based sauce—is rich in flavor, with tender, moist meat full of umami. It’s easy to prepare, as you only need to heat it in the microwave, making it a favorite souvenir among tourists.
For a drink accompaniment, try their aburi-yaki iwashi (seared grilled sardines) or sun-dried firefly squid. The sardines are made from high-quality fish that are tender, slightly sweet, and aromatic. The firefly squid are large and rich in flavor from their innards, delicious as is, but even tastier with a quick sear.

5. Enjoy Luxurious Seafood Dishes! “Shokudo Marunaka”

Located on the second floor of Teradomari Chuo Suisan, Marunaka is a tatami dining hall where you can enjoy freshly caught seafood at reasonable prices—thanks to its location above a specialty shop for crab and fresh fish. Their menu is extensive, featuring indulgent dishes such as sea urchin and salmon roe two-tone rice bowls, fresh oysters and scallops, local fish like splendid alfonsino (kinmedai) sushi, and sashimi boat set meals.
One of their most popular offerings is the seafood chirashi bowl, generously topped with tuna, salmon roe, sea bream, yellowtail, sweet shrimp, surf clam, octopus, and crab. The tuna melts in your mouth with rich flavor, the sweet shrimp has an intense sweetness, and the surf clam offers a satisfying crunch—each ingredient harmonizing beautifully for an exquisite taste experience.
They also offer a weekday-only service called “Nokke-don,” where you can select fish from the first-floor Teradomari Chuo Suisan, have it prepared, and served as a rice bowl upstairs at Marunaka. If you see something you’d like to eat while browsing the shop, it’s worth giving it a try.

6. For the Famous Crab Ramen! “Kaisen Chaya Shio no Hana”

Kaisen Chaya Shio no Hana is a dining establishment located on the second floor of Kakujo Gyogyo. It caters to both individuals and groups, making it suitable for families or group tours.
Many visitors come here specifically for the “Crab Ramen,” which gained popularity after being featured on television. This luxurious ramen comes topped with an entire whole crab, making it a photogenic and highly talked-about dish. They never use frozen crab, ensuring the freshest flavor so you can fully enjoy the crab experience.
If you’d like to enjoy both crab and salmon roe, try the “Crab and Salmon Roe Rice Bowl.” It’s lavishly topped with shiny, perfectly textured salmon roe, beautifully presented and delicious.

7. Famous for Soft Serve Ice Cream! “Silk Road”

When you need a break while exploring Teradomari Fish Market Street, Silk Road is the go-to spot for its famous soft serve ice cream. Made with 100% locally sourced milk, the ice cream has a refreshing flavor. Local specialty soft serves, made with regional ingredients, are also popular.
One standout is the Koshihikari Soft Serve, made with Niigata’s famous Koshihikari rice, offering a unique texture from the rice grains that fascinates tourists. Other flavors include pudding, black sesame, melon, mango, and pineapple, so you can enjoy a variety of tastes. They also sell shaved ice, sweets, and souvenirs.

◎ Final Note: Best Access is by Car (Drive)

To access Teradomari Fish Market Street, it’s about 60 minutes by bus from JR Nagaoka Station. By car, it’s about 35 minutes from the Nakanoshima-Mitsuke IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, or around 30 minutes from the Nagaoka-Kita Smart IC. Since bus service is limited, driving along the scenic coastline is recommended when visiting. Bringing a cooler in your car’s trunk makes it easier to buy fresh Niigata seafood to take home as souvenirs.