Nantaru Ichiba, Seafood marketplace in Minami-Otaru, Japan
Nantaru Ichiba is a seafood market in the Minami-Otaru area of Hokkaido, where around 25 small shops line a narrow indoor passage and sell fresh fish and local products every day. The stalls sit close together, and vendors display their goods openly along the walkway.
The market was founded in 1948 and grew out of small trading stalls used by fishermen and merchants working in Otaru after the Second World War. It developed alongside the growth of the city's fishing port and became a fixed part of local trade early on.
The vendors here lay fresh catch openly on ice, and visitors can watch the full process from display to sale without any barrier between them and the goods. This open way of trading is something that has largely disappeared from larger shops and gives the market its particular character.
Coming early in the morning gives the best choice, as vendors are still arranging their goods and the selection has not yet been picked over. The market is within easy walking distance of Minami-Otaru Station, and parking is available close by for those arriving by car.
Some vendors offer small samples of their goods without being asked, and these tastings are not advertised or planned. They happen naturally as part of the daily rhythm of the market and give visitors a chance to try things they might not have considered buying.
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