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One of Japan's largest! What is the "Tatehana Wharf Morning Market" where you can find everything?

The Tatehana Wharf Morning Market is one of Japan's largest morning markets, held only on Sundays from mid-March to late December. Every week, an 800-meter-long market street appears at the Tatehana Wharf in Hachinohe Port, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
The reason for its popularity is the diverse lineup of shops. Among the approximately 300 stalls, you will find not only Hachinohe seafood, fresh vegetables, and fruits, but also a wide variety of takeout gourmet food made from local specialties like mackerel and squid. There are also shops selling items you wouldn't expect at a morning market, such as original goods by tatami craftsmen, furniture handmade by carpenters, handmade toys, sewing machines, hardware, accessories, and more.
This "anything goes" laid-back atmosphere is exactly what makes this morning market so charming. It is a fun spot worth waking up early for.

Tatehana Wharf Morning Market

• 3-chome, Shinminato, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, Tatehana Wharf Morning Market MAP
• Approx. 20 minutes by taxi from Hachinohe Station, approx. 10 minutes on foot from Mutsu-Minato Station
• Sunrise to 9:00
• Mondays to Saturdays from mid-March to late December, January to mid-March, and on the day of the Umineko Marathon (mid-May). Temporary openings are held during Golden Week, Obon, and the end of the year, etc. In 2018, these were August 11 (Sat/Holiday) and December 29 (Sat).
• 070-2004-6524 (Minato Sunday Morning Market Association Office)
• Free

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What are the recommended times, access, and parking? Tips for enjoying the morning market

The morning market starts around dawn, while it is still dim. Shops gradually begin to set up, and by the time the sun rises, all the shops are open and bustling with many people.
The market is held until around 9:00 AM, and while the peak of the crowd is around 7:00 AM, queues form at popular shops even before they open, and it is not uncommon for items to sell out by 5:00 or 6:00 AM. If you have your eye on something specific, you should head to the market at daybreak.

Also, since the parking lot is almost full by around 5:00 AM, we recommend using public transportation. You can take the Sunday Morning Market loop bus "Isaba-go" (100 yen) from Hachinohe city center, or walk from JR Hachinohe Line Mutsu-Minato Station.
However, since the earliest arrival for both is around 6:00 AM, if you want to arrive earlier, it is best to take a taxi from Hachinohe Station or similar locations. Since it is early in the morning, we recommend booking in advance.

The first thing you should get at the morning market venue is the "Tatehana Wharf Morning Market Map." It is very convenient, as it not only lets you check the locations of the shops but is also easy to read, with photos and recommended comments included.
If you are buying it on-site, go to the "Asaichi Tsuhan Miyage-ya" (Morning Market Mail-Order Souvenir Shop) or the Morning Market Association office. If you want it in advance, you can also order it from the "Web Hachinohe Asaichi Tsuhan" website.
Additionally, the Morning Market Association office can ship items you bought at the market. A benefit is that you can head home light-handed even if you buy too many souvenirs.

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Recommended Gourmet #1: Eating your way through fresh local seafood

The highlight of this morning market is, without a doubt, the local food unique to Hachinohe.
Being close to the fishing port, there are many menu items made with freshly caught seafood, and just with the local specialty mackerel, there is a variety including pressed sushi, croquettes, skewers, and fried chicken. If you pick up freshly made local soup like "Ichigo-ni" at the neighboring booth "Yukko-chan no Mise," your original breakfast set is complete.

Local
Supporter

My top recommendation is the "Hachinohe Saba-meshi Croquette" (commonly known as Saba-koro)! It is a rice croquette made with mackerel mixed into the rice, with cheese and shiso leaves inside. It is so popular that it sells out in about an hour, so I highly recommend waking up early to try it.

Furthermore, the venue is a true gourmet paradise, with famous stalls like the charcoal-grilled shop "Uokobo Katsura," which has been in business for over 25 years, as well as shops selling more seafood menu items than you could ever eat, such as sea squirt rice, grilled sea urchin, and deep-fried dishes. It is so hard to choose, but since there are also menu items you can eat with one hand or bite-sized options, we recommend trying a little bit of many different flavors.

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Recommended Gourmet #2: Perfect for breakfast. Local favorite regional dishes

This is a breakfast spot frequented by locals as well. A key feature is that it's not just producers of fresh produce and processed seafood products who set up shop, but also many cafes from Hachinohe and neighboring towns. Because of this, you can enjoy a wide variety of locally popular menu items, including regional dishes, B-grade gourmet food, homemade bread, sweets, and more.
Hachinohe's famous "Senbei-jiru" (cracker soup) is one of them. It is a light soy sauce-based soup topped with Nanbu senbei crackers, featuring a gentle flavor enhanced by the broth of ingredients like vegetables, mushrooms, and chicken. The Nanbu senbei are specially made so they don't dissolve easily in the soup, allowing you to enjoy their unique, chewy texture.

Also, the "Shio-teba" (salt chicken wings) (half portion) from "Daian Shokudo" is a popular item that draws lines and often sells out by around 5:00 AM. The chicken wings are deep-fried, and the crispy batter pairs perfectly with the juicy chicken.
Then there is "Ichiyama Seimen," famous for its all-you-can-stuff yakisoba; even if the noodles are overflowing from the container and the lid won't close, it's fine as long as you can get a rubber band around it. Even when you think you've stuffed it to the limit, the staff will say, "You can still fit more," and add another scoop or two, showing their generous spirit.
In addition to this, local gourmet foods are gathered all in one place, from traditional snacks like miso mochi and grilled tofu with miso to stick fruits.