Our first stop: Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Market) in Aomori City. It’s known as the home of the famous Nokkedon, a “build-your-own” seafood rice bowl to which you can add your favorite toppings. After purchasing a set of tickets (2,200 yen for a dozen) at the main counter near the entrance, exchange them for a bowl of steaming-hot Aomori-grown rice and a variety of fresh sashimi as well as miso soup and other side dishes at the dozens of stalls that fill the market. We recommend making a brief tour of the different stalls before buying your tickets so that you aren’t overwhelmed by all of the options—your tickets are liable to disappear before you know it with tempting offerings like generous cuts of fatty tuna and salmon, huge scallops, and delicacies such as salmon roe and sea urchin (the specific types of freshly caught seafood available depend on what’s in season). Once your desired Nokkedon rice bowl is complete, you can sit down and enjoy it in the dining room on the second floor of the market. Located only about a five-minute walk from JR Aomori Station, Furukawa Market is the ideal place to sample a wide range of fresh local seafood all in one place.

Similarly named but not to be confused with “Nokkedon” is the “Nokkerodon” seafood rice bowl available at Minatotto Seafood Market in Hachinohe City. Simply choose your favorites from among several dozen varieties of toppings including lots of fresh locally caught seafood, serve them over a bowl of rice, and your very own “Nokkerodon” is complete. On Sundays, it’s the perfect lunchtime treat to replenish your energy after taking in the hustle and bustle of the nearby Tatehana Wharf Morning Market, the largest morning market in Japan. Minatotto Seafood Market also hosts a sushi-making workshop once a month, in which you can learn how to make hand-pressed sushi topped with seasonal fish under the guidance of a real sushi chef. Participants additionally learn how to slice sashimi, make vinegared rice, and clean fish, as well as taste different sushi made by a professional chef.

Also located in Hachinohe City (a short bus ride from Hachinohe Station) is Hasshoku Center, a huge marketplace packed with all kinds of seafood and other products that is like a veritable “theme park” for local food. One of the most popular attractions is the barbecue area, where you can rent a charcoal grill set to grill fresh seafood yourself! First, pay the rental fee (500 yen per adult) to receive your equipment (grill, tongs, and seasonings) and reserve your seats. Then, head out into the market for super-fresh fish and squid, oysters, enormous scallops, or whatever you want to throw on the grill. Meat and vegetables are also sold, in case there are members of your group who aren’t really seafood lovers. Rice, side dishes, and even beer and other alcoholic beverages can also be purchased at the market to make your barbecue party complete. With a total time limit of two hours to use the equipment, there’s plenty of time to procure your ingredients and enjoy your meal. Plus, since the facilities at Hasshoku Center are completely indoors, you can enjoy grilling regardless of the weather (a tip: coin lockers are available at several locations in the center, so you can stash your outerwear, etc. there beforehand if you’re worried about it ending up smelling like barbecue).

But before you devour your scrumptious seafood meal, don’t forget to take some pictures for social media! Images of all that decadent fresh seafood are sure to make your friends’ mouths water and serve as an unforgettable memory of your Aomori trip.