Get off the bright yellow train and walk 15 minutes southwest from the ticket gate of JR Hinose train station and you arrive at a fish market known as ‘Gomi no Ichi’ (five flavor market), which is arranged by Hinose's fishery cooperative.

At the Gyogyotto Matsuri, held on the first Sunday of every month, the market is bustling with people with their eyes on special bargain sales of seafood.

 

All the products in the baskets are JPY500. The number of combinations makes you dither, but I decided on the sole fish that is in season right now. Counting them afterwards, believe it or not, there were over 10 pre-prepared fish!

However, at Hinose the seafood everyone is after during February, that reaches its peak around this season is… that's right, oysters. 

Usually it takes 2-3 years to cultivate an oyster, but the Hinose oysters' special characteristic is that they are cultivated in one-year circles, which has lead to them also being called as wakagaki ('young oysters'). The waves in the sea surrounded by the Hinose islands are calm, and as the oysters accumulate all the fertile nutrients flowing from the islands, they can apparently be grown within a short time period.

 

The lines continue on without a break and more and more oysters for frying in their shells are carried on site.

he main aim here is to take the oysters bought at ‘Gomi no Ichi’ to ‘Umi no Eki Shioji’ on the other side of the road, and enjoy them cooked on a charcoal fire.

 

At the BBQ corner, families and couples are huddled together struggling with their oysters. Here and there you can see overflowing smiles (as well as drool) of sublime bliss. And this is the result!

At the entrance of ‘Gomi no Ichi’ you will be given a small piece of fish cake with the words, "It's okay if you just have it, so please eat it". After having fish cake with such texture, you will want to buy it.

 

At the market a powerful fisherman's wife will kindly teach you a delicious way to enjoy the fish.

Hinose Oyster festival is held every year in February. After enjoying the fruits of the sea to your fullest, it might be a good idea to use up some of those calories and take a walk by the port!

 Gomi no Ichi

Open: 9.00-17.00 (Stores closed after products are sold out)
Closed: Tuesdays (Closed on Wednesday when Tuesday is a public holiday)
Location: 801-4 Hinose, Hinose-cho, Bizen city, Okayama prefecture
Telephone: 0869-72-3655
Access: Train: 15-minutes walk from JR Hinose station
Car: 10 minutes from Okayama Blue Line's Bizen interchange. Non-tolled parking area available 

Umi no Eki Shioji

Open: 9.00-16.00
Closed: Only during the New Year holidays
Location: 801-8 Hinose, Hinose-cho, Bizen city, Okayama prefecture
Telephone: 0869-72-2201

Event Information:

Gyogyotto Festival

Arranged on the 1st Sunday of every month. (On the 2nd Sunday only in January.)

Arranged at Gomi no Ichi

Hinose Oyster Festival (Special products, sales of various oysters, frying oysters, oyster opening experience)
Date: Every February

Location: Square nearby Gomi no Ichi
Access: 10 minutes by the free shuttle boat from the wharf in front of JR Hinose train station
Telephone: 0869-64-1832 (Bizen city hall, city sales department)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Madoka Hori