Okinawa's Top 3 Fish Markets | Tomari Iyumachi, Itoman, and Awase Port
When traveling to Okinawa, beyond exploring scenic spots and participating in various activities, many visitors look forward to indulging in fresh seafood. Okinawa is renowned for its ocean bounty, and among its many seafood hubs, three stand out as the most popular and highly recommended: Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market, Itoman Fish Market, and Awase Fishing Port.
Which fish market is the best? What makes them different? And what delicious dishes can you find at each?
In this post, I will break down the highlights, direct comparisons, and personal visiting experiences for Okinawa's top three fish markets, helping you pick the perfect spot to feast on the freshest local catches!
1. Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market
Tomari Iyumachi is Okinawa's largest fish market. Located near downtown Naha, it boasts the most convenient transit access, the longest operating hours, and the widest variety of fresh seafood compared to other markets. With reasonable local prices, it is a bustling market frequented by locals and tourists alike. However, its main drawback is the very limited dining area with few seats; during peak hours, you should be prepared to take your food to go or eat standing up, which can be slightly inconvenient.
◎ Address: 1-1-18 Minatomachi, Naha, Okinawa (Tomari Iyumachi, MAPCODE: 33 216 085*14)
◎ Operating Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Jan 1–3)
◎ Parking: Free; approx. 75 spaces
◎ Vendor Count: Approx. 25 stalls
◎ Transportation: Take the Yui Rail to Miebashi Station and walk for about 15 minutes (Transit Guide | Okinawa Car Rental)
◎ Official Website: Tomari Iyumachi
(Tomari Iyumachi is only about a 15-minute drive from Naha Airport and opens very early in the morning. If you arrive early via a budget airline before attractions open, heading straight here is an ideal way to kick off your trip with a delicious seafood breakfast.)
(The market is clean and remarkably free of unpleasant fishy odors. It offers a wide variety of seafood, focused primarily on raw items such as sashimi, lobster, sea urchin, scallops, snow crab, raw oysters, whole crabs, and sea snails. Some vendors, including Daikoku Kaisan and Nakama Suisan, offer made-to-order cooking services and have Chinese-speaking staff to help you enjoy your meal effortlessly.)
(The market features a staggering variety of seafood, showcasing both local Okinawan specialties and premium catches shipped in from all over Japan.)
(Because locals usually take seafood home to cook, there are only a few dine-in restaurants inside the market. Among them, Maguroya Honpo is the most famous. Their signature fresh tuna donburi is exceptional, alongside nigiri sushi, baked lobster, oysters, and baked scallops. Expect long queues during peak dining hours.)
(You can observe seafood processing workshops through glass partitions inside the market. Thanks to nearby fishing grounds, much of the fish is delivered directly without ever being frozen, ensuring supreme freshness. In fact, Okinawa ranks among the top three prefectures in Japan for fresh tuna catches, including albacore, bigeye, and yellowfin tuna.)
(Tomari Iyumachi is easily accessible and sits right next to Naha Tomari Port, the primary ferry hub for traveling to nearby outlying islands such as the Kerama Islands. Furthermore, it is very close to downtown Naha attractions like Kokusai Dori, Shintoshin, Naminoue Shrine, and Shuri Castle, making it simple to combine in your itinerary.)
2. Itoman Fish Market
Itoman Fish Market is also very convenient to access, located just a 20-to-25-minute drive from downtown Naha and Naha Airport. While it has fewer vendor stalls and shorter opening hours than Tomari Iyumachi, it shines with a much richer selection of cooked seafood, superior indoor and outdoor seating, and even lower prices, making it another highly recommended destination!
◎ Address: 4-19 Nishizakicho, Itoman, Okinawa (Roadside Station Itoman Osakana Center, MAPCODE: 232 484 077*34)
◎ Operating Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Closed during New Year holidays; some stalls closed on Mondays)
◎ Parking: Free; approx. 300 spaces
◎ Vendor Count: Approx. 10 stalls
◎ Transportation: Take Bus 89 from Naha Bus Terminal and alight at Nishizaki Nichome stop (Transit Guide | Okinawa Car Rental)
◎ Official Website: Itoman Osakana Center (Roadside Station Itoman)
(Although Itoman Fish Market has fewer stalls—consisting essentially of a single arcade walkway—the variety of seafood is impressive, leaning heavily toward cooked, ready-to-eat items. You'll find grilled lobster smothered in sea urchin sauce, grilled prawns, seafood donburi, onigiri, jumbo raw oysters, seafood miso soup, grilled unagi, and grilled scallops, generally at prices cheaper than downtown Naha markets.)
(Compared to Tomari Iyumachi, Itoman Fish Market opens later in the day, making it an ideal lunch stop. In addition, the market offers ample indoor and outdoor seating, so you won't have to wander around awkwardly holding hot food, and the entire facility is kept very clean.)
(Right next to the fish market is a large souvenir shop stocked with Okinawan specialty gifts and snacks, perfect for browsing before or after your meal. Furthermore, nearby attractions like Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa, Senagajima Island, and Okinawa World can easily be combined into a relaxing half-day or full-day southern Okinawa tour.)
3. Awase Fishing Port
Compared to the first two markets, Awase Fishing Port in central Okinawa is the smallest. Transit here is less convenient, making it a truly authentic local fishing port that sees relatively few international tourists. What makes it special is that many menu offerings change daily based on the day's fresh catches, ensuring top-tier quality. The facility also sells fresh local produce, processed seafood products, and souvenirs alongside peaceful harbor views, making it ideal for deep-travel enthusiasts.
◎ Address: 1-11-34 Awase, Okinawa City, Okinawa (MAPCODE: 33 565 341*0)
◎ Operating Hours: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Closes at 5:30 PM from October to March in winter)
◎ Parking: Free; approx. 300 spaces
◎ Vendor Count: Single facility managed by the fisheries cooperative (includes dining hall and retail market)
◎ Transportation: Take Bus 31 from Naha Bus Terminal to Misato Kogyo Koko Mae stop (Transit Guide | Okinawa Car Rental)
◎ Official Website: Okinawa City Fisheries Cooperative Payao Direct Sales Store
(The on-site Payao Shokudo serves hearty seafood sets prepared from the day's harbor haul, which is why menu items frequently vary. Every set meal comes with fresh sashimi of the day, miso soup, and rice. Both raw and cooked meal sets are available in generous portions.)
(Adjacent to the restaurant is a retail market selling an assortment of seafood products, including lobster, sashimi platters, sea urchin, tempura, grilled bites, dried fish, and even farm-fresh local produce.)
(Before visiting Awase Fishing Port, I noticed that online guides heavily recommend the Sea Urchin Baked Lobster [5,500 JPY for a whole lobster, 3,000 JPY for a half]. However, when I arrived in person, I discovered almost all the local diners were ordering the Butter-Fried Fish Set Meal (魚バター焼き定食), officially listed on the website and menu as their #1 bestseller! Realizing I could already get baked lobster at Tomari, I switched orders to try this signature dish. It was fragrant, generous, and thoroughly satisfying.)
(The restaurant provides plenty of indoor and outdoor seats, kept impeccably clean. Eating outside lets you soak in the pleasant breeze and peaceful harbor views. After dining, you can easily pair your trip with nearby central Okinawa spots such as Kaichu Doro (Mid-Sea Road), Katsuren Castle Ruins, or AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom.)
In conclusion, weighing overall pros and cons, Tomari Iyumachi and Itoman Fish Market are the most universally recommended. If you prioritize raw seafood/sashimi variety and do not mind limited seating, choose Tomari Iyumachi. If you prefer cooked seafood delicacies with spacious, comfortable seating, go for Itoman Fish Market. Meanwhile, Awase Fishing Port is ideal for travelers seeking an authentic, unhurried local experience off the beaten path.
That wraps up my guide to Okinawa's top 3 fish markets! Trying fresh seafood when visiting Okinawa is an absolute must—not only for its stellar quality but also as a great way to experience everyday local life. I hope this guide helps you plan your delicious seafood feast!