Sea urchin fishing ban will be lifted in Yoichi Town, Hokkaido in early summer 2024!

  • Hokkaido
  • Eating
Kitamura-Saki sea urchin at the first auction last year
Hello everyone. This is the Hokkaido correspondence department. Today, we would like to introduce to all "sea urchin lovers" the opening of the sea urchin fishing season in Yoichi Town, Hokkaido.
The opening of the sea urchin fishing season in Yoichi Town is on May 20 every year. Yoichi Town is about 1 hour from Sapporo by expressway, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes along the coast by national highway. As you pass through Otaru City, the smell of the tide as you open the window reminds you that you are heading for a port town. Just a few days ago, during Golden Week, the roads were crowded with cars visiting Yoichi Town to enjoy the delicacies of the sea and mountains. Especially during the season when the "sea urchin fishing" ban is lifted, the roads are jammed with cars for miles, so an early morning departure is recommended.

The first auction at Yoichi Marine Products Local Wholesale Market (2023)

The first auction last year
Salt water pack
This pack containing sea urchin is called "salt water pack", and Yoichi Town is said to be the birthplace of "salt water pack". It was developed in order to deliver the sea urchin to customers while keeping it tasty and fresh. If you look closely, you can see the name of the processor on the Yoichi-machi "Salt Water Pack". It is a reassurance to know that you can see the processor's face on the pack.

I can't choose either one. Ezo Buffoon Sea Urchin (red) and Kitamura-Saki Sea Urchin (white)

At a fresh fish store (2023)
After the first auction, the sea urchins will be sold at fresh fish stores and supermarkets in Yoichi Town. There are two main types of sea urchins harvested in Yoichi Town. Ezo-bahoon sea urchins (red) are called "Gaze" or "Ganze," and Kitamura-saki sea urchins (white) are called "Nona. The taste of Ezo-bahoon sea urchin is very rich, with a strong aroma of the sea, while the Kitamura-saki sea urchin has a good balance between the aroma of the sea and a creamy taste, which may divide people's tastes.

The sea urchins in Yoichi Town are excellent, but there are many other things to see and do.

Ezo-bahun sea urchin with a rich and seaside aroma and flavor (2023)
Sea urchins grow mainly on seaweed such as kelp, but they are surprisingly omnivorous, eating anything and everything. The taste of the sea urchin itself depends on the food it eats, so the fishing environment is very important. All of us living on the earth should keep the sea clean and enjoy delicious sea urchins forever. The sea urchin fishing season in Yoichi Town is from Monday, May 20 to Saturday, August 31. Please come to Yoichi Town to enjoy the taste of early summer, "Sea Urchin of Yoichi Town". In addition, Yoichi Town has the Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory, orchards where you can enjoy fruit picking, and wineries, where you can have fun all day long. For more information about Yoichi Town, please visit the official website of the "Yoichi Town Tourist Association.
Photo provided by/Yoichi Tourist Association
Yoichi Tourist Association Official WEB site
Yoichi County Fishery Cooperative Association Official Web site
For train + accommodation "Hokkaido Area" reservations, please visit [ JR East View Dynamic Rail Package ]
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