Choshi, Chiba Pref., Kanto

Choshi is a city, Chiba Prefecture, located in the east of Kanto region. Its population is about 64,000 and there is no famous temple nor famous shrine. However, the city has one of the largest commercial fishing ports, around which there are seafood restaurants.

Visitors could walk beside the port and see lots of fishing boats ( above ), who go out to the sea everyday. Off the coast of Choshi, Black Current, a warm current, is mixed with Okhotsk Current, a cold current while Tone River carries rich minerals into the sea at Choshi. So the catches of Choshi Port are one of the largest in Japan.

In Choshi, there are many restaurants which offer various fish dishes such as Kinme-dai ( splendid alfonsino ), Iwashi ( sardine ), Aji ( horse mackerel ), Sanma ( pacific saury ), Saba ( mackerel ), Katsuo ( bonito ), Maguro ( tuna ) and so on. Isn't it worth visiting and staying in the city to eat various seafoods.

Sashimi would be nice in the first place. Top right in the above is Sanma ( pacific saury ), top left is Aji ( horse mackerel ), bottom is Kinme-dai ( splendid alfonsino ).

Not only commercial fishing but also Shoyu ( soy sauce ) production has developed in Choshi City since the 17th century. So good Shoyu makes Sashimi tastier.

The above shows Namero of Aji ( horse mackerel ). Namero is one of the traditional local specialty dishes, made of fish minced and mixed with miso ( soybean paste ), sake, negi ( spring onion ), ginger, Japanese ginger and so on.

It is said that fishermen prepared and ate Namero on their fishing boats. Not only Aji but also Iwashi ( sardine ), Saba ( mackerel ) and Tobiuo ( flying fish ) are good for Namero.

Choshi is famous for high quality Kinme-dai ( golden eye snapper or splendid alfonsino ). They are fatty all year round. Kinme-dai ( above ) boiled with sake, soy sauce, sweet sake, sugar is especially nice as well as they are good for Sushi and Grill.

Needless to say, in Choshi there are some Sushi-ya ( Sushi restaurants ), who serve various sushi ( above ) with " Jizakana " ( fresh local catches ) as sushi ingredients. In Japan nobody can talk about fish without Sushi.

Also grilled fish is essential. The sbove shows grilled Sanma ( pacific saury ), which is so nice especially with grated daikon radish and soy sauce. It is said in Japan that Grilled Sanma is the taste of common people.

The above shows Iwashi Ten-don. "Ten-don" in Japanese means a bowl of rice topped with tempra ( deep-fried fish and vegetables ). The ingredients of the above Ten-don is Iwashi ( sardine ), sweet potato and aubergine.

Many Japanese people like Himono ( dried fishes ). Tourists, walking around Choshi, would see fishes dried as above. Dried fishes would be good souvenirs.

Local Trains ( above ), run by Choshi Electric Railway Co., Ltd., are popular among railway buffs. The trains, connecting Choshi, Inubo and Tokawa ( Total railway length 6.4km ), could help tourists go around. Stomachs of them would take a rest in local trains between meals.

Inubosaki Lighthouse ( above ), built in A.D.1874 in Meiji Period is also popular. It is one of the registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. The lighthouse, needed for the safety of vessels, was designed by a British engineer. From the lighthouse, open to the public, tourists could enjoy a fine view of the sea.

The above shows Enpuku-ji ( temple ) and Daibutsu ( large statue of Buddha ). They say that Enpuku-ji, located in Choshi City, was founded in the 9th century by Kukai and some buildings were constructed in the 16th-18th century. Though most of the buildings were destroyed by air raid during WWII, some were reconstructed after the war.

Stomachs are restored after some rests. Now it is time to find another seafood restaurant, isn't it?