Oma, Aomori

The town of million dollar tuna fish

Oma is located at the northern end of Honshu, the main island, and is famous for its high-quality tuna. Pacific bluefin tuna caught in Oma are called Oma Tuna and are arguably the best in Japan. Some fish buyers, including owners of large sushi restaurants, attempt to purchase the finest tuna at Tokyo’s primary fish market, Toyosu, during the initial auction of the year. In 2019, the most expensive tuna sold for 333.6 million yen. Fish sell for very high prices at the first auction because it is a traditional congratulatory market.

Fishing method

Oma Tuna is special because the fishermen there use lines instead of nets to catch them. This method preserves the tuna with minimal damage, and the fishermen treat them in a certain way to keep them fresh.

When to go

The fishing season starts in August and lasts until January of the next year. The best season to eat tuna is between fall and winter, but the weather is very cold in winter.

What to do

Oma is a small fishing town and main tourist attractions are located in Cape Oma. Well, you basically come here to eat Pacific bluefin tuna and other sea food and/or come here to take a ferry to Hakodate, Hokkaido. There are many places to eat tuna and go shopping around the cape area.

Access

You can find detailed access information from Official Oma Tourism Website

Accommodations

There are many places to stay in the Cape Oma area. I stayed at Marine House Kudo. It costs around 8000 – 10000 yen per person including breakfast and dinner. If you prefer cheaper accommodations, Umikaze Inn is a good option. It is located away from the Cape, so you will need your own transportation. One night stay costs around 3000 yen with no food provided: Tel. 0175-37-3116. In addition, there is a campground at the Cape. It is free to use and has public toilets and cooking facilities.