Yobuko port. Rows of squid hang drying from poles, with fishing boats and a sightseeing boat moored beyond them.

YOBUKO, KARATSU CITY, SAGA PREFECTURE

Yobuko呼 子

提供：（一社）唐津観光協会（Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association）

A port town on the Genkai Sea, in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. A market fills one street at daybreak, squid comes ashore, and just offshore the waves have cut caves into the rock. A small guide for anyone going to Yobuko.

Yobuko Morning Market

A S A I C H I

Asaichi-dori, the morning market street in Yobuko. Stalls under parasols line both sides of the road as shoppers pass by.
提供：（一社）唐津観光協会（Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association）

Yobuko's day begins on a single street called Asaichi-dori, Morning Market Street. The market opens every day except January 1, and is counted as one of Japan's three great morning markets alongside Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Sellers and buyers stand face to face in the road, trading words along with the fish.

In Japanese the market is 呼子朝市, Yobuko Asaichi; the English pages of the Japan National Tourism Organization call it the Yobuko Morning Market and the Yobuko Fish Market.

Hours
7:30–12:00 (each stall sets its own hours)
Open
Every day except January 1
Getting there
About 30 minutes by bus from Oteguchi Bus Center, get off at “Yobuko”, then 1 minute on foot
Parking
Yobuko Asaichi parking (free, 29 cars) / Yobuko Rinko parking (¥100 per 1 hour, 128 cars)

The above was checked in July 2026. Opening hours and parking fees change. Please confirm the latest information on the official sites.

Source Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association — Yobuko Asaichi (Morning Market) ／ Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — Yobuko no Asaichi (Yobuko Morning Market)Japanese only

Yobuko Squid

I K A

Ika no ikizukuri. Translucent squid cut into thin strips and arranged on a boat-shaped dish.
提供：（一社）唐津観光協会（Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association）

Yobuko is known as the squid town. Its signature dish is ika no ikizukuri — squid served while the flesh is still translucent. The star is kensaki squid (ケンサキイカ, swordtip squid; called yari-ika locally), said to be prized for its firm bite and its sweetness.

The season is generally given as spring through autumn, though sources differ on how wide that range is. For when and what is served, please check with the restaurant or the official tourism information.

Restaurants serving squid are listed below under Squid restaurants.

Source Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — “Fresh Yobuko squid ikizukuri, packed with flavour”Japanese only

Squid restaurants

S H O P S

The restaurants listed here are the squid restaurants in and around Yobuko that appear on the gourmet pages of Tabi Karatsu, the tourism site of the Karatsu Tourism Association. This site has not judged them against one another and has not ranked them. They appear in the order of the association's page numbers; the order carries no meaning.
The details for each restaurant were checked on July 12, 2026. Opening hours, closing days, prices and parking change. Please always check each restaurant's official site before you set out.

いかの活造り 大和 / Ika no Ikizukuri Yamato

Squid landed that same day by the fishermen, served as ikizukuri. The shop also serves prawn miso soup and its own ika shumai (squid dumplings). No smoking at any table.

Address
唐津市鎮西町名護屋1445-4
Nagoya 1445-4, Chinzei-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-3643
Hours
11:00–17:00 (last entry) / on days when the weather keeps the squid from coming in, the shop may close early
Closed
Irregular; December 31 – January 2
Typical dishes
Ika-don set ¥1,180 / ika no ikizukuri set with ika shumai ¥2,550 / the same with prawn miso soup ¥2,980
Parking
50 cars, 10 buses

The restaurant is not in Yobuko-cho but in neighbouring Chinzei-cho.

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

海中魚処 萬坊 / Kaichu Uodokoro ManbouClosed for renewal

Closed for a full renewal since June 1, 2026. The official site says it is “temporarily closed until around autumn 2026” and that the new restaurant will “open from autumn 2026 onward”. As of October 10, 2026 no opening date has been published. Please check the official site for the latest notice.

A restaurant floating on the sea, with its dining room below the surface. The windows look out into the water — a setting found nowhere else. It is now closed while the whole restaurant is rebuilt, and is due to open again around autumn 2026.

Address
唐津市呼子町殿ノ浦1946番地1
Dono-no-ura 1946-1, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-5333
Hours
Weekdays 11:00–15:00 (last order) / Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:30–16:00 (last order)　*the hours before the closure
Closed
Thursdays (moved when Thursday is a public holiday)
Typical dishes
Ika-zanmai course ¥4,400 (tax included) and others
Parking
50 cars, 2 buses

The hours, closing day, dishes, prices and parking above are all as they were before the closure. They may change after the renewal. Please check the official site.

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

お魚処 呼子 玄海 / Osakanadokoro Yobuko Genkai

Said to be the restaurant where ika no ikizukuri was born. Run directly by a live-fish wholesaler, with several tanks in the dining room; besides squid ikizukuri you can eat the fish of the season.

Address
唐津市呼子町殿ノ浦508-3
Dono-no-ura 508-3, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-3913
Hours
11:00–17:00 (11:00–15:00 on Tuesdays) / may close earlier depending on conditions
Closed
Mondays (the following Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday)
Parking
63 cars, 3 buses

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

活魚料理 漁火 / Kakkyo Ryori Isaribi

A restaurant on the rise overlooking Yobuko Ohashi Bridge. Besides squid ikizukuri it serves the seafood of the Genkai Sea — squid bowls, sea urchin bowls, sashimi sets. There is a daily lunch on weekdays.

Address
唐津市呼子町大字呼子1467-1
Oaza Yobuko 1467-1, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-5224
Hours
10:00–15:00
Closed
Wednesdays
Parking
50 cars, 5 buses

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

いか道楽 / Ikadoraku

A restaurant whose signboards promise squid “still alive” and “flash-frozen ika ikizukuri”. It also stocks souvenirs such as ika shumai and ika jiman.

Address
唐津市呼子町加部島3606
Kabeshima 3606, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-5539
Hours
Weekdays 10:30–15:30 (last order) / Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:30–16:30 (last order)
Closed
Thursdays (this changes in some months; please check the official site)
Typical dishes
Ika ikizukuri set ¥3,410 (tax included) / ika-gama ikizukuri set ¥3,685 (tax included)
Parking
80 cars, 5 buses

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

活魚料理 かべしま / Kakkyo Ryori Kabeshima

Standing at the northern end of Kabeshima, with the Genkai Sea through its windows. The tanks are filled with seawater drawn from 300 metres offshore.

Address
唐津市呼子町加部島260-1
Kabeshima 260-1, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-5187
Hours
11:00–17:00 (last order 16:00)
Closed
Wednesdays (subject to change)
Parking
60 cars, 5 buses

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

河太郎 呼子店 / Kawataro Yobuko

A restaurant specialising in squid ikizukuri. You eat while watching shoals of squid swim in the large tanks.

Address
唐津市呼子町呼子1744-17
Yobuko 1744-17, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Telephone
0955-82-3208
Hours
Weekdays 11:00–20:30 (last order 19:00, last entry 18:30) / Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:30–20:30 (last order 19:00, last entry 18:30)
Closed
Wednesdays, the Obon period, and the New Year holidays
Typical dishes
Ika ikizukuri set ¥2,700 (tax included)
Parking
50 cars, 3 buses

View on Google Maps Official siteJapanese only Source: Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism AssociationJapanese only

Nanatsugama

N A N A T S U G A M A

Nanatsugama. Cliffs of columnar basalt drop into the sea, with sea caves opening at the waterline and pines growing along the clifftop.
提供：（一社）唐津観光協会（Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association）

A group of sea caves at Yakataishi in Karatsu City, designated a Natural Monument of Japan. Basalt cut away by the waves of the Genkai Sea, it shows columnar jointing — the column-shaped cracks left as lava cooled and contracted. The largest cave is 3 m across at the mouth and 110 m deep. When the sea is calm enough, a boat can take you inside.

Getting there
From Oteguchi Bus Center take the Minato–Yobuko line and get off at “Nanatsugama-iriguchi” (about 34 minutes), then about 30 minutes on foot

Source Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association — Nanatsugama ／ Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — NanatsugamaJapanese only

Nanatsugama sightseeing boat Ikamaru (Marinepal Yobuko)

A sightseeing boat that leaves Yobuko and rounds Nanatsugama. The trip takes about 40 minutes and looks into the caves from the sea.

Departures
9:30／10:30／11:30／12:30／13:30／14:30／15:30／16:30 (extra sailings in busy periods can change the departure times)
Fares
Adults (junior high school and above) ¥2,200 / children (elementary school) ¥1,100 / preschool children: 1 free for each 1 accompanying guardian
Duration
About 40 minutes

The departure times and fares above are what the official site published in July 2026. Times, fares and cancellations change with the weather and the season. Always check the official site for the latest information.

Official Marinepal Yobuko — Nanatsugama sightseeing boat IkamaruJapanese only

Yobuko Ohashi Bridge

O H A S H I

Yobuko Ohashi Bridge. Cables run from the main tower out across the water, with the red-railed Benten boardwalk in the foreground.
提供：（一社）唐津観光協会（Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association）

A bridge about 728 m long linking Yobuko with the island of Kabeshima. On Kabeshima, across the water, are Kaze-no-Mieru-Oka Park (the park on the hill where you can see the wind) and Tashima Shrine, which carries the legend of Matsura Sayohime.

Source Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — Yobuko Ohashi BridgeJapanese only

Getting here

A C C E S S

Yobuko is about 30 minutes by bus from Oteguchi Bus Center in central Karatsu. Get off at “Yobuko”. Asaichi-dori is 1 minute on foot from there.

To the Yobuko Morning Market
About 30 minutes by bus from Oteguchi Bus Center, get off at “Yobuko”, then 1 minute on foot
To Nanatsugama
From Oteguchi Bus Center take the Minato–Yobuko line and get off at “Nanatsugama-iriguchi” (about 34 minutes), then about 30 minutes on foot

This site carries no map images. For exact locations and routes, please check the sources below and each facility's official site. Bus timetables change, so please check the operators' official information for services. Routes by car are not covered in the 1st edition.

Source Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association — Yobuko Asaichi (Morning Market)

Sources

S O U R C E S

The facts on this site were confirmed against the pages below. All the text was written for this site; nothing is reproduced from the sources. The 5 photographs were provided through the Photo Library of the Karatsu Tourism Association (incorporated association), under its terms of use (see “About the photographs” below). No other images — photographs, maps or logos from other sites — are reproduced or embedded. All pages were referenced on July 12, 2026. Their content may have been updated since.

  1. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association — Yobuko Asaichi (Morning Market)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/spots/detail/52/
  2. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association — NanatsugamaReferenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/spots/detail/4/
  3. Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — Yobuko no Asaichi (Yobuko Morning Market)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.asobo-saga.jp/spots/detail/358d07ba-acf4-4be5-9573-9f73abc8dba1Japanese only
  4. Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — “Fresh Yobuko squid ikizukuri, packed with flavour”Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.asobo-saga.jp/articles/detail/b2d97eae-3915-4ae9-b04f-25f35eba3bebJapanese only
  5. Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — NanatsugamaReferenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.asobo-saga.jp/spots/detail/a5cf8dd0-9218-4395-8540-b137a30c8165Japanese only
  6. Asobo Saga, the official Saga Prefecture tourism site — Yobuko Ohashi BridgeReferenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.asobo-saga.jp/spots/detail/5dc5e3dd-3f6e-4c5d-8e8b-f72ff3980ceaJapanese only
  7. Marinepal Yobuko — Nanatsugama sightseeing boat Ikamaru (departure times and fares are taken from this page)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.marinepal-yobuko.co.jp/ikamaru.htmlJapanese only
  8. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「いかの活造り 大和」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/169/GourmetJapanese only
  9. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「海中魚処 萬坊」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: October 10, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/172/GourmetJapanese only
  10. Kaichu Uodokoro Manbou, official site — “Underwater restaurant” (source for the closure and the planned reopening)Referenced: October 10, 2026 https://www.manbou.co.jp/restaurant/index.htmlJapanese only
  11. Manbou Co., Ltd. — “Notice of closure for the renewal of Kaichu Restaurant Manbou” (April 3, 2026, PDF) (source for the closure and the planned reopening)Referenced: October 10, 2026 https://www.manbou.co.jp/news/new_manbou0403.pdfJapanese only
  12. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「お魚処 呼子 玄海」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/173/GourmetJapanese only
  13. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「活魚料理 漁火」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/174/GourmetJapanese only
  14. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「いか道楽」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/176/GourmetJapanese only
  15. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「活魚料理 かべしま」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/177/GourmetJapanese only
  16. Tabi Karatsu, Karatsu Tourism Association, Gourmet「河太郎 呼子店」 (source for the description, address, telephone, hours, closing days, prices and parking)Referenced: July 12, 2026 https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/gourmet/detail/178/GourmetJapanese only

About the photographs

The 5 photographs on this site were provided through the Tabi Karatsu / Karatsu Tourism Association Photo Library, under its terms of use and through the proper procedure. Copyright in the photographs belongs to the Karatsu Tourism Association (incorporated association) (some are held by the contributors). As the terms require, every photograph carries the credit “提供：（一社）唐津観光協会” (Provided by: Karatsu Tourism Association). The only processing this site has applied to the image data itself is downsizing for web display; no cropping, no colour adjustment, no rotation. In display too, the photographs are never cropped — the whole image is always shown.

On the photograph of Yobuko port at the top of the page, the site name (呼子 / Y O B U K O) is laid over the image in the page display (the image data itself is not modified). We have confirmed that this photograph carries no photographer's name either in the image or in its EXIF data, so the text laid over it cannot hide a photographer's credit. The credit is displayed with the photograph as before.

Photo Library: https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/libraries/Japanese only

Source pages for the photographs used: