Underwater Scapes! Discover the Ocean’s Bounty in the Boso Peninsula
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The Boso Peninsula east of Tokyo is home to beaches with scenic ocean views and facilities like Kamogawa Sea World and the Underwater Observation Tower where visitors can get a deeper understanding of sea life. We introduce its charms along with a renowned seafood manufacturer based in this area.
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Tokyo, Japan
The Boso Peninsula: Enjoy the Ocean Near Tokyo
The Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture is often the first place that comes to mind when you want to relax at the beach with unobstructed views of the ocean near Tokyo. Home to scenic places such as the surfers' paradise Ichinomiya and Kujukuri Beach, as well as resorts with hot springs and refreshing forests, the Boso Peninsula is the ideal destination for those who wish to unwind by the ocean.
There are also facilities where visitors can learn about ocean life and sea creatures up close, making it a perfect destination for family travel.
In this article, we introduce locations that can be enjoyed with the whole family in the Boso Peninsula such as Kamogawa Sea World and the Underwater Observation Tower in Katsuura Marine Park, along with a famous seafood manufacturer based in the area.
Encounter Ocean Creatures at Kamogawa Sea World
Kamogawa Sea World is a massive aquarium facility built around the concept of "encounters with the world of the ocean." Visitors can enjoy exhibits that recreate natural habitats and performances by killer whales, beluga whales, and other ocean creatures.
Tropical Island. Picture courtesy of Kamogawa Sea World
Some of the highlights of the aquarium are the Eco Aquaroam, which displays recreations of water environments, and Tropical Island, which showcases a coral atoll divided into six areas.
Picture courtesy of Kamogawa Sea World
One of the most popular interactive displays is "A Message from the Coral Reefs," a digital water tank on a 7-meter-wide screen where visitors can draw fish and watch them swim in the sea.
You'll be encountering sea lions, dolphins, penguins, sea turtles, tufted puffins, pelicans, and other creatures in areas reproducing their habitat.
Restaurant Ocean. Picture courtesy of Kamogawa Sea World
There are three dining facilities within Kamogawa Sea World where you can enjoy a meal or a snack. Restaurant Ocean has an elegant atmosphere with windows into the tank with killer whales so that visitors can watch them swimming. Foodcourt Mauri has an exotic ambiance, while the Buffet Restaurant Sun Cruise (operating only on weekends and public holidays) is ideal for visitors who wish to freely choose from the around 40 types of cuisine available.
The menu at Restaurant Ocean features pasta, curry rice, grilled steak, and other dishes. Some of the items are designed with ocean motifs. The desserts look and taste spectacular!
Picture courtesy of Kamogawa Sea World
At the end of your visit, stop by the souvenir shops of Kamogawa Sea World. From Japanese confectionery shaped like or decorated with ocean life motifs, to stationery, toys, and all kinds of accessories, there is a wide variety of charming items to choose from.
Underwater Ocean Observatory: A Tower with Views into the Ocean!
Katsuura Marine Park, also known as Katsuura UnderSea Park, is home to one of the most exciting facilities in the Boso Peninsula: the Underwater Ocean Observation Tower. The tower is located about 60 meters offshore and can be reached by a walkway.
Go down the stairs and you'll reach the underwater observation deck located 8 meters under the sea level! From the windows, you'll be able to observe fish and other sea creatures along with the scenery of the bottom of the ocean. Colorful panels on display feature the fish that can be seen swimming beyond the windows.
The ocean water has a high degree of transparency in this area; you'll be surprised how well you can actually see into the ocean.
After enjoying the underwater scapes, take in the views from the observation deck above the ocean; it offers unobstructed views of the endless blue horizon.
There are several other facilities within Katsuura Marine Park, including a cafe where visitors can enjoy refreshments, a beach, and a gift shop with local souvenirs.
Picture courtesy of the Coastal Branch of the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba
Those who wish to learn more about the marine life around the Boso Peninsula should also visit the Ocean Museum (Coastal Branch of the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba) located just across the street from the tower entrance. This is an ocean research facility with fascinating permanent and special exhibitions themed around marine life.
Additionally, the facility holds participatory events and workshops such as observing the ocean and rocks in front of the Underwater Observation Tower. If your schedule permits, how about taking part in one of these workshops?
Yamao Shokuhin: Making High-Quality Dried Fish Products Since 1964
Yamao Shokuhin is a seafood processing company based in Isumi City specializing in salted dried fish products and other seafood products. They take much pride in their salted dried fish, which they make using traditional Japanese methods of preserving fish.
The company was originally established in 1964. It is currently owned by Mr. Yamaguchi Eiji, a true artisan of fish processing.
The predecessor of Yamao Shokuhin, a company called Yamaguchi Yoshikazu Shoten, used to specialize in dried anchovies at first. However, when the ingredients for dried anchovies became unavailable, they switched to making dried saury. The dried fish product series that Yamao Shokuhin is now famous for was introduced in 1996.
Their dried fish products are sold in individual packages that are vacuum-sealed to preserve the freshness of the ingredients, seasoning, and flavor until just before consumption. To prevent the dried fish from losing its shape during storage, a specially developed board tray securely holds the fish in place.
Over the years, Mr. Yamaguchi has strived to improve the fish drying techniques, achieving a high product quality that is widely acknowledged. Their dried fish products look good and taste excellent when cooked.
The salted and dried products that are in the highest demand are Atka mackerel, horse mackerel, and mackerel. In order to secure the quantities of fish necessary for production, Yamao Shokuhin uses mainly imported fish - from the United States of America, South Korea, and Norway.
"Freshness and just the right quantity of fat are essential for the dried fish to taste good. Due to seasonal currents, the fish caught in Japanese waters don't always have enough fat; their level of fat tends to fluctuate by season. For our production, we need fish with a constant level of fat; that is why we rely mainly on imported ingredients for our dried fish products," explained Mr. Yamaguchi.
Yamao Shokuhin imports about 400 tonnes of Atka mackerel from America every three months! The horse mackerel is brought from South Korea, about 150 tonnes at a time, while the mackerel is brought all over from Norway, about 70 tonnes per shipment. They also use octopus locally caught in Chiba for some of their products.
Each fish is cut into two equal halves using special machinery, then cleaned and filleted by hand, salted, left to dry, and then vacuum-sealed in its package. The mix they use in the salting process contains mineral-rich salt from Ako (Hyogo Prefecture), kombu kelp extract, and pure rice sake; this results in a pleasant, mellow flavor.
Grilled Mackerel (Extra Large) *Online price: 700 yen (with tax)
In response to the requests from customers who want to reduce their salt intake, Yamao Shokuhin also produces low-sodium products. By reducing the salt content, the flavor of the dried fish can be enjoyed by an even wider range of customers.
Fatty Horse Mackerel with Sesame *Online price: pack of two 450 yen (with tax)
Dried fish tastes best fried or grilled with a dash of grated radish and soy sauce, served with rice or vegetables. It can also be enjoyed as a chazuke-style dish, with the fish as a topping for rice sprinkled with hot broth or tea.
The dried fish products made by Yamao Shokuhin can be found at supermarkets and fish markets in the Tokyo area, including the Toyosu Fish Market, as well as Japan-wide. Their products can also be bought at the factory's shop or ordered online (Japanese).
Ohara Fishing Port: Visit the Morning Fish Market!
Picture courtesy of Ohara Fishing Port
If you find yourself in Isumi, do visit the Morning Market at the Ohara Fishing Port! This market is one of the best places to learn more about Japan's seafood culture by seeing the sheer variety of fish, crustaceans, and other seafood caught on a daily basis from the ocean nearby.
Ohara Fishing Port is particularly famous for spiny lobsters (Ise-ebi). The lobsters handled here are some of the largest in Japan!
The various stalls and shops sell both freshly caught seafood and processed items. There are also eateries offering kaisen-don (rice bowls topped with generous quantities of seafood), sushi, and other seafood dishes.
Enjoy the Sights and Seafood of the Boso Peninsula
The Boso Peninsula is one of the best places to enjoy the scenic views and the bounty of the Pacific Ocean near Tokyo. The sightseeing facilities and seafood products introduced above can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.
Next time you're in Tokyo, how about embarking on a fun day by the ocean?
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Written by Ramona Taranu
Sponsored by Reconstruction Fishery Processing Industry Market Recovery Promotion Center
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Tokyo, Japan
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