Hasshoku Center aka Hachinohe Fish Market

Address: 22-2 Kamisai Aza Kawaragi Hachinohe City, Aomori

Hours: Market: 9:00AM-6:00PM; Aji Yokocho (restaurants): 9:00AM-7:00PM; Kuriya Stadium (restaurants): 9:00AM-9:00PM

Closed: Wednesdays and January 1st

Admission: free

Welcome to Japan. If one hasn’t grown up frequenting Asian food markets, be prepared for culture shock.

Misawa Base residents commonly referred to Hasshoku Center as Hachinohe Fish Market. However, it is much more than a fish market. This general food retail center hosts a range of Hachinohe and Aomori specialties under one roof.

In addition to fresh seafood, vendors sell vegetables, local liquors, sweets and dry foods, ice cream, ramen, rare delicacies, and souvenirs. There are also areas of restaurants called Kuriya Stadium and Aji Yokocho, which offer visitors dishes of fresh seafood, which seem to be a popular place for locals to eat because there are usually lines out the door around lunch and dinner time.

In Shichirin Village, visitors can char-grill seafood and meat that they buy in the market and enjoy eating them. Events, cooking classes and free market are regularly held in the center, too.

The second floor of both Hasshoku Center and Hasshoku Stadium encompasses a small area for children to play. This part of Hachinohe is easily accessible by car. Nearby stores, such as Sanwado and HoMac, provide supplies for your home. If you miss your garage sales and swamp meets from back home, Sundays during the spring, summer, and fall, a flea market offers reasonably-priced second hand goods.

So many vendors to choose from

Local fish

Crab for everyone

Fish, snails, and other sea food

Taxidermy shark not for sale =(

Hachinohe key chains

Cupie keitai charms

Mmm ... the smell of fresh carbs

Hello dessert

Bean-filled pancakes

Sembei cracker galore

Seasonal fruits

Fresh vegetables

Deep fried seafood

Deep fried varieties of croquette

Hasshoku Center children's area

Games for you to spend your yen

American are welcome to sell their goods at the flea market. Arrive early (before 07:30 AM) and be prepared to get swarmed by shoppers the MINUTE you put stuff on the ground. Bring a tarp and/or to place your belonging on. Although advertised as open through 02:00 PM, most vendors start packing up about 12 noon.

Hasshoku Center Directions

From Misawa's Falcon Road, turn left onto the Toll Road

Go through the first toll booth, pay 200 yen, and take your ticket

Exit at 7: Hachinohe-kita, pay 150 yen, follow the curve, and turn right at the light onto Route 45

Continue on Route 45 until you see the first Sunkus (about 10 minutes)

Turn right at the Sunkus traffic light

Turn right when the street comes to a T-intersection
Turn right to Hasshoku Center and left to the Flea Market

Hachinohe Children's Park

Hachinohe Children's Park

Located next to a botanical park, Hachinohe Children’s Park (also referred to as Hachinoe's Children's Land) is a small outdoor amusement centre on the outskirts of downtown Hachinohe (about 45 minutes south of Misawa). It features kiddie rides, playgrounds, and a petting zoo. Admission to the park and children’s land is free, but tickets need to be purchased for the rides. Some snacks for sale include yakisoba, ice-cream, corndogs, etc. Children’s Land is open every day from April 1 to November 1 between 09:00 and 16:00, except Mondays and Japanese public holidays. Prices for rides current as of May 2010.

Decorative guard rails

Monkey Mountain

Mechanical safari pets (200 yen)

This was son's favorite ride in the park.

Ferris wheel (110 yen: 12 and younger, 220 yen: 13 and older)

Swings (110 yen)

Panda drinking fountain

Play area (notice the child with a mask in the back)

Pedal Skyway (110 yen: 12 and younger, 220 yen: 13 and older)

Dolphin Paradise (220yen)

Carousel (200 yen)

Roller Coaster (220 yen: 12 and younger, 330 yen: 13 and older)

Go Carts (220 yen: 1 seat, 330 yen: 2 seats)

Cement slide (quite long, see above photo)

My son was too scared to slide down.

Directions to Hachinohe Children's Park

This place is difficult to find. I compiled my directions from several directions I found on-line. If you know of an easier way to get to the park, please let me know.

From Misawa's Falcon Road, turn left onto the Toll Road

Go through the first toll booth, pay 200 yen, and take your ticket

Exit at 7: Hachinohe-kita, pay 150 yen, follow the curve, and turn right at the light onto Route 45

Continue driving past the Sunkus

Keep driving until you get to the Sega T-intersection, make a right, and get into the far right lane

Pass through a short tunnel and keep driving

Look for the green Central sign for the upcoming right turn

Turn right at Ruike 4 Street, between Yokomachi and Yoshinoya

Keep driving on route 251, past these two landmarks

Turn right at first Sunkus you see

Keep driving until the road looks like it comes to a T-intersection, make a right turn

Make an immediate left turn at the Route 221 stoplight

Turn at the first right, and continue to follow the narrow road up a small hill

Hachinohe Children's Park will be on your right