Delicious season for 300 seafood in Japan

1. Introduction

We want foreign visitors to eat a variety of Japanese seafood at the best time of year and in the best places. With this in mind, we have created a seasonal calendar of approximately 300 different types of seafood, prefecture by prefecture.

This list is based on the PRIDE FISH website, selected by the Japan Fisheries Co-operative. PRIDE FISH is a list of “really tasty fish selected by fishermen”. Therefore, by referring to this list, you should be able to eat the most delicious seafood. Many Japanese people do not know the details of the season for Japanese seafood. And for foreigners, it can be even more difficult to understand. We hope that this list will be of some help to foreign visitors when they visit and dine in various parts of Japan.

Only the English version of Hokkaido is shown here as an example. For more information, see the English and Traditional Chinese versions.

2. Search by Prefecture

Hokkaido & Tohoku

Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima

Hokkaido & Tohoku

Hokkaido

真つぶ、Ezo-neptune / Whelk

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Hidaka

Delicious season : April, May, June, July

Japanese pronunciation : Ma-tsubu, Tsubu, Tsubu-gai Whelk

ニシン、Pacific herring

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Ishikari Bay

Delicious season : January, February, March, April, May

Japanese pronunciation : Nishin

時鮭（トキシラズ）、Chum salmon

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido

Delicious season : April, May, June, July

Japanese pronunciation : Tokisake, Tokishirazu

北寄貝、Sakhalin surf clam

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Tomakomai

Delicious season : July, August, September, October, November, (December, January, February, March, April)

Japanese pronunciation : Hokki-gai, Hokki

甘えび、Pink prawn / Deepwater shrimp

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Sea of Japan

Delicious season : May, June, July

Japanese pronunciation : Ama-ebi

牡蠣、Oyster

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Akkeshi

Delicious season : May, June, July, August, (December, January, February)

Japanese pronunciation : Kaki

ししゃも、Shishamo smelt

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Pacific coast

Delicious season : October, November

Japanese pronunciation : Shishamo

マツカワガレイ、Barfin flounder

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Pacific coast

Delicious season : September, October, November, December, January

Japanese pronunciation : Matsukawa-garei

蝦蛄、Mantis shrimp

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Otaru / Ishikari

Delicious season : October, November, December

Japanese pronunciation : Shako

ホタテ、Scallop

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Sea of Japan, Funka Bay

Delicious season : December, January, February, March

Japanese pronunciation : Hotate

銀杏草、Mazzaella japonica

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Wakkanai / Rumoi

Delicious season : January, February, March

Japanese pronunciation : Ginnan-sou

Note : High-grade natural seaweed

ごっこ（ホテイウオ）、Smooth lumpfish

Prefectures, Region : Hokkaido, Hakodate

Delicious season : December, January, February, March, April

Japanese pronunciation : Gokko, Hotei-uo