Toretore Market Nanki Shirahama

Toretore Market Nanki Shirahama is one of western Japan's largest seafood markets, located in Shirahama, a coastal resort town in Wakayama Prefecture. Established in 1999, the market was created to showcase the region's fishing industry and provide visitors direct access to fresh catches from the Kii Channel and Pacific Ocean. The facility spans approximately 15,000 square meters and combines a traditional fish market atmosphere with modern tourist amenities.

The market serves as the primary seafood distribution center for the Nanki region, handling daily catches from local fishing ports including Tanabe, Susami, and Kushimoto. Its cultural significance lies in preserving traditional Japanese fish market practices while adapting to contemporary tourism needs. The venue features over 40 vendors selling fresh seafood, local produce, and regional specialties. The centerpiece is the tuna cutting demonstration, performed multiple times daily using whole bluefin tuna that can weigh over 200 kilograms.

Visitors can purchase fresh seafood and have it prepared on-site at the market's restaurants and food stalls. The facility includes a kaisendon (seafood bowl) corner where customers select their own sashimi toppings, BBQ areas for grilling purchased items, and specialty shops selling dried goods, local sake, and Wakayama's famous umeboshi (pickled plums). The adjacent Toretore Yokocho food court offers prepared dishes ranging from sushi to grilled seafood skewers. Many visitors participate in the seafood auction experience, a simplified version of professional tuna auctions designed for tourists.

The market is located at 2521 Katata, Shirahama-cho, approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Shirahama Station. Regular buses run from the station, with the journey taking about 15 minutes and costing ¥340 one way. Free parking is available for over 770 vehicles. From Osaka, the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours by JR Kuroshio Limited Express to Shirahama Station. The market is also accessible via the Hanwa Expressway, exiting at Nanki-Shirahama IC. Admission to the market is free, though purchases and dining are at individual vendor prices. The facility includes barrier-free access and provides shopping carts and rest areas for visitor convenience.