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One of the largest in Japan!　What is the Tatehana Quay Morning Market, where you can find everything you need?

Tatehana Kishiwai Asaichi is one of the largest morning markets in Japan, open only on Sundays from mid-March to late December. The venue, Tatehana Quay in Hachinohe Port, has an 800-meter morning market street that is visited by tens of thousands of people every week.
The reason for the popularity of the market is the wide variety of stores. The approximately 300 stalls offer a wide variety of Hachinohe seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as take-out gourmet foods made from local specialties such as mackerel and squid. There are also stores selling original goods made by tatami craftsmen, carpenters' furniture, handmade toys, sewing machines, hardware, accessories, and other items that are not typical of a morning market.
Such openness is the charm of this morning market. It is a fun spot worth getting up early for.

Tatehana Quay Morning Market

• Tatehana Quay Morning Market, 3 Shinminato, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
• 20 min. by cab from Hachinohe Stn. 10 min. walk from Mutsu Minato Stn.
• Sunrise - 9:00
• Monday-Saturday from mid-March to late December, January to mid-March, and the day of the Umineko Marathon (mid-May). Temporary events are held during Golden Week, Obon, year-end, etc. In 2018, August 11 (Sat., national holiday) and December 29 (Sat.)
• 070–2004–6524 (Minato Sunday Morning Market Association Secretariat)
• Free of charge

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What are the recommended times, Direction, and Parking?　Points to enjoy the morning market well

The morning market starts around dawn, when it is still dimly lit. Stores begin to open little by little, and by the time the sun rises, they are all set up and crowded with people.
The market is open until around 9:00, and the crowds peak at around 7:00, but popular stores have lines out the door before they open, and many of the menu items are sold out by 5:00 or 6:00. If you are looking for something special, it is best to head to the morning market at dawn.

Direction by public transportation is recommended, as the parking lot is almost full by 5:00 a.m. early in the morning. You can take the Sunday morning market circulation bus "Isaba-go" (100 yen) from downtown Hachinohe, or walk to Mutsu Minato Station on the JR Hachinohe Line.
However, the earliest service in both cases arrives only around 6:00 a.m. If you want to get there earlier, you can take a cab from Hachinohe Station or other locations. Since it is early in the morning, it is recommended to make reservations.

The first thing to get at the morning market is the Tatehana Kishibe Morning Market Mapu. Not only can you check the location of stores, but it is also very convenient and easy to read with photos and recommended comments.
If you want to buy it locally, go to "Asaichi Mail Order Souvenir Shop" or Asaichi Association Office. If you want to order in advance, you can order from the "Web Hachinohe Asaichi Mail Order" website.
The morning market office can also ship items purchased at the morning market, so even if you buy too many souvenirs, the advantage is that you can go home light.

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Recommended gourmet 1) Eating local fresh seafood

The highlight of this morning market is, without a doubt, the local cuisine unique to Hachinohe.
Given its proximity to the fishing port, there are plenty of dishes made with freshly caught seafood. Even just the dishes featuring Hachinohe’s famous mackerel come in a variety of forms, such as pressed sushi, croquettes, skewered grilled fish, and deep-fried mackerel. If you pick up some freshly made local soup called “Ichigo-ni” from the neighboring booth, “Yukko-chan’s Shop,” you’ve got yourself a custom breakfast set.

Local Guide
Supporters

My top recommendation is the “Hachinohe Mackerel Rice Croquette” (commonly known as “Saba Koro”)! It’s a rice croquette made with mackerel mixed into rice, filled with cheese and shiso leaves. It’s so popular that it sells out in about an hour, so I highly recommend getting up early to try it.

In addition, there are many other restaurants selling seafood dishes that you cannot get enough of, such as the famous "Fish Kobo Katsura," a charcoal-grilled restaurant that has been in business for over 25 years, sea urchin, fried sea urchin, and more, making it a true gourmet paradise. It is hard to choose just one, but there are also one-hand menus and bite-size items, so it is recommended to try a little bit of everything.

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Recommended gourmet 2) Perfect for breakfast. Popular local cuisine.

This is a breakfast spot frequented by locals as well. In many cases, not only producers of fresh produce and processed marine products, but also cafes and other establishments from Hachinohe and nearby towns have set up store here. As a result, visitors can enjoy local menus, B-class gourmet foods, homemade bread, sweets, and many other popular local dishes.
One such dish is Hachinohe's famous "senbei soup. It is a light soy sauce-based soup topped with Nanbu senbei (crackers), and has a gentle flavor with vegetables, mushrooms, chicken, and other ingredients in a broth. The Nanbu senbei is designed so that it does not easily dissolve in the broth, and its unique texture can be enjoyed.

Also, "Daian Shokudo's" "Shioteba" (half portion) is a long-standing menu item that is sold out as early as 5:00 a.m. The "Shioteba" is a deep-fried chicken wing. The chicken wings are deep fried, and the crispy batter and juicy chicken meat are a perfect match.
Even if you think you have filled the pack to the limit, the store staff will give you another serving or two, saying, "It's still good enough.
In addition to these, you will find a variety of local delicacies such as miso rice cakes, tofu baked in miso, and even fruit sticks.