JAPAN TRAVEL: Ashikita Utasebune, Where Tourists Can Enjoy a Fishing Cruise!
One of the sea-related activities to do in Kumamoto is fishing. Tourists may try to do so in Ashikita, where fishing is one of the main livelihoods of the locals.
Ashikita, Kumamoto
Tourists may board a sailboat that lets them catch fish through Utase net-fishing, a traditional fishing style that has been practiced since the Edo Period.
This fishing technique uses a trawl net positioned at the bottom of the sea, pulled by the boat. The catch depends on the sea breeze, too.
Most of the seafood caught by using this technique include tiger prawns, crab, and fishes. Tourists on board may try freshly-caught seafood as it can be prepared right on the cruise itself, for an additional price of ¥10,000 to ¥20,000.
General information:
Address: 869-5453 2963 Hakariishi, Ashikita-machi, Ashikita-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture
Price range: Sightseeing boats with a capacity of 10 to 12 persons range from ¥40,000 to ¥50,000.
Contact: +81 966-82-2511 (Ashikita Town Commerce and Industry Tourism Section)
Reservation Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday to Friday); Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer magazine Vol. 35-February 2019 issue.
