Authentic Rural Japan Experience in Ainan, Shikoku: Bonito Filleting & Scallop Shell Art Workshop

• Table of Contents
• What are the Charms of Ainan City in Ehime? 
• 1. Bonito Filleting & Tasting Experience
• 2. Experience Seaborne Art using Ainan Town's specialty, the "Hougi Shell"
• Enjoy the Unique Port Town Experience in Ainan Town

What are the Charms of Ainan City in Ehime? 

A sightseeing boat that allows you to enjoy underwater sightseeing. You can see colorful tropical fish swarming around the coral and schools of sparkling fish. If you're lucky, you might even encounter a sea turtle!

Although it takes time to get there, Ainan Town's geographical location is also one of its great attractions. Surrounded by a rich sea influenced by the Kuroshio Current, fishing and aquaculture have developed as the town's core industries.

In particular, Ainan boasts one of the highest bonito catches in Shikoku, and the auction scene can still be seen at the port on a daily basis. The fact that it is a port town where people actually live and work creates a unique experience value.

In this article, we will introduce two experiences that allow you to experience the fishing culture of this area.

1. Bonito Filleting & Tasting Experience

Ainan Town in Ehime Prefecture is a port town that boasts one of the largest bonito catches in Shikoku. The high-quality bonito grown in the Kuroshio Current is highly acclaimed in markets across the country.

This experience begins with a visit to an actual bonito auction at the port, where you can learn up close how fishermen and brokers select fish.

Afterwards, you will be taught how to select high-quality bonito and then prepare the fish of your choice together with a professional chef. You will be able to taste and compare the bonito you have prepared after learning how to use a knife and the differences between each part.

This is not just a cooking experience, but a full-fledged hands-on activity that allows you to experience the fishing culture of Ainan Town. It is a rare opportunity to experience the real-life scene that only a port town can offer, even when sightseeing in Shikoku.

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2. Experience Seaborne Art using Ainan Town's specialty, the "Hougi Shell"

Ainan Town in Ehime Prefecture is known as the birthplace of the "Hougigai" shell, which is characterized by its vibrantly colored shells. With their beautiful colors that seem unnatural, such as red, purple, and orange, they are also called the "jewel of the sea."

In this experience, you will create an original lampshade using pearl oyster shells under the guidance of a local craftsman. The impression changes depending on how you arrange the shells and how the light passes through, so you can create a one-of-a-kind piece.

Another attraction is that after the experience, you can enjoy local cuisine made with seafood from Ehime Prefecture, and experience the food culture of Ainan Town, a port town that has developed alongside the fishing industry.

Instead of buying ready-made products at tourist spots, you can make them yourself and take them home. This kind of "participatory tourism" is one of the attractions unique to Ainan Town in Shikoku.

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Enjoy the Unique Port Town Experience in Ainan Town

Located at the southernmost tip of Shikoku, Ainan Town in Ehime Prefecture is an area that has not been developed into a tourist destination, and as a result of the time it takes to access it, it retains the lifestyle of a genuine port town.

Experience tourism that allows you to deeply immerse yourself in the local fishing and food culture, such as watching a bonito auction, trying your hand at butchering, and making art using pearl oysters, provides a special experience that you cannot get in Tokyo or Kyoto.

Step outside the typical Shikoku sightseeing route and embark on a journey where you can interact with local people. Be sure to try out some activities that can only be found in Ainan Town, Ehime Prefecture.