DISCOVER FUKUI

One secret to Fukui’s excellent seafood is the natural surroundings: it is near the center of the Sea of Japan coast, and the four major fishing ports along its coastline mean that most of the prefecture is fairly close to a fishing port. Ships can leave port early in the morning, and be back with their hauls around lunchtime—perfect for having incredibly fresh seafood, ready to sell or serve.
 
 Naturally, the Sea of Japan itself plays a key role in this great seafood, too. The harsh waves here lead to fish with firm meat, and plenty of delicious fat. Warm and cold currents meet off the coast of Fukui, and this plankton-rich water flows into Wakasa Bay, making it a great environment for fish to live in, and ideal for fishing.
 
 Fishers and researchers in Fukui have worked to find ways to keep seafood fresher for longer. These include packing fish into containers designed for better temperature control, or carefully butchering fish immediately after catching them.

Season: November through March
 Echizen Gani Crab is the seasonal seafood most closely associated with Fukui. These crabs are packed with sweet, firm meat and crab paste, earning them the local nickname “the king of winter foods.” Every winter, male snow crabs from fishing ports in Echizen, as well as from Mikuni, Tsuruga, and Obama, are sold under the premium Echizen Gani Crab brand. Crab connoisseurs know to also look for Seiko Gani Crab, or female snow crabs, which are smaller but full of delicious eggs. Restaurants throughout the prefecture serve fresh Echizen Gani Crab as sashimi, as well as grilled, boiled, or in hot pots.

Season: May through January
 These sweet, tender shrimp are known for their rich color, and go through a strict sorting process based on quality, with the ones full of blue eggs being particularly prized. To find fresh Fukui Amaebi Shrimp, take a close look: the freshest shrimp have the clearest bodies, while less fresh shrimp have darker heads. However, the very freshest shrimp may not necessarily be the best—many seafood lovers believe that these shrimp are at their sweetest and most delicious the day after they are caught. Fukui offers plenty of ways to enjoy the unique texture and great flavor of these shrimp, served in classic styles like sashimi or as a topping for a rice bowl, or fried in tempura. Some restaurants also offer more unusual options, such as “shrimp cutlet” burgers, or cooked with rice to make the most of their flavor.

Season: August through November
Tilefish caught in Wakasa Bay have a long history as beloved seafood: these were once taken to the imperial court in Kyoto, to be served to the emperor. Wakasa Guji Tilefish are particularly delicate, so to keep them in excellent condition, fishers pack them into special cold storage boxes, and keep them under careful temperature control all the way back to the port. Only the largest and finest of these fish earn the name Wakasa Guji Tilefish, and these are shipped out with a special freshness management system that prevents them from ever touching ice. These fish have tender white meat, and can be prepared in a variety of ways. One of the most distinctive ways to serve them is Wakasa-yaki, or “grilled Wakasa-style”: grilled with their scales still on, to make the most of the rich aroma they provide.

Season: October, November, and February through May

The Yopparai Saba (“Drunk Mackerel”) project began in Obama in 2016, as a collaboration between industry, academia, and the local government. Their name comes from the fact that their feed includes sake lees (the solids left over after pressing sake), which are rich in amino acids. This feed gives this mackerel a complex sweetness and a refreshing hint of acidity, while reducing unwanted “fishiness.” Visitors can enjoy these flavorful fish at restaurants, grilled whole, as broiled slices on a bowl of rice, or served as shabu-shabu to be quickly cooked in boiling water at the table.