Makurazaki Premium Market: a taste of Kagoshima’s bonito town near Omotesando
Oct 29 – Nov 1Katsuobushi, satsuma-age, shochu and tea, plus tastings and a bonito-shaving demo. Closes at 13:30 on the last day.
If you have only ever met katsuobushi as the flakes dancing on top of okonomiyaki, here is a chance to see where a lot of it comes from. Makurazaki, a fishing city at the southern tip of Kagoshima, is setting up a four-day market on the ground floor of the World Kita-Aoyama Building in Tokyo, a two-minute walk from Omotesando Station.
The official name is Makurazaki City Premium Market (枕崎市プレミアムマーケット). This is its second year. According to the event flyer, admission is free, so you can drop by just to look around and taste.
Dates, hours and venue at a glance
| Event | Makurazaki City Premium Market (枕崎市プレミアムマーケット) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1, 2026 (4 days) |
| Venue | World Kita-Aoyama Building, 1F special venue |
| Address | 3-5-10 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8526 |
| Nearest station | Omotesando Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda and Hanzomon lines), Exit A3, about 2 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free (as shown on the event flyer) |
| Organizer | Makurazaki City |
| Planning and direction | World Solutions Co., Ltd. |
Opening hours change on two of the four days, so check the day you plan to go:
| Thu, Oct 29 | 10:00 – 18:00 |
|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 10:00 – 19:00 (open one hour later) |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 10:00 – 13:30 (final day, early close) |
What Makurazaki is known for
Makurazaki is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, and its food culture revolves around bonito (katsuo). The best-known product is katsuobushi, the smoked and dried bonito that gets shaved into the flakes used for dashi stock. Alongside it, the city produces bonito dishes, satsuma-age (fried fish cakes), authentic shochu, green tea and knives.
The market is the city’s way of introducing all of this to people in the Tokyo area. If the visit leaves you wanting to explore southern Kyushu in person, our guide to the JAL Kyushu flight and hotel discount covers one way to keep the trip cheaper.
What you can buy, taste and try
The market mixes shopping with things to do. Here is what the organizers have announced:
| Program | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|
| Sales booths | Katsuobushi, sashimi, satsuma-age, authentic shochu, tea and knives on display and for sale | Every day |
| Tastings | Samples of local food and drinks | Check flyer |
| Katsuobushi shaving | Live demonstration, and a chance to shave it yourself | Check flyer |
| Bonito pole-fishing experience | Hold a fishing rod and feel how heavy a bonito is | Check flyer |
| Talk session | The mayor of Makurazaki, producers and business people on GI (Geographical Indication) registration, the city’s appeal and ways to enjoy local products | Check flyer |
| Workshops | Hands-on sessions | Check flyer |
| Kitchen car | Food and drinks served from a food truck | Check flyer |
| Exhibits | Displays on the nature, culture and industry of Makurazaki | Check flyer |
The bonito pole-fishing corner is the easiest thing to enjoy if you don’t read Japanese: you just pick up the rod and feel the weight. The shaving demo is also very visual, and it shows why freshly shaved katsuobushi smells so different from the bagged kind.
Getting there from Omotesando Station
The venue is on the ground floor of the World Kita-Aoyama Building at 3-5-10 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda or Hanzomon line to Omotesando Station and use Exit A3. From there it is about a two-minute walk.
The photo above shows the same building during last year’s market, which gives you an idea of the layout: one open floor lined with booths and fishing-town banners.
Tips for a smooth visit
- Do not leave it for Sunday afternoon. The final day ends at 13:30, so a late lunch visit on November 1 will miss it.
- Friday is the after-work option. On October 30 the market stays open until 19:00.
- Plan the trip home if you buy sashimi. Sashimi is on the sales list, so if you pick some up, head home rather than carrying it around Omotesando all afternoon.
- Check how to pay. The press release does not say which payment methods the booths accept. If you rely on a card, it is worth asking at the booth first. New to cards in Japan? See which credit card foreigners in Japan should get first.
- Make a day of it. Late October is busy with free events in Tokyo. Our guides to the Musashino Art University festival and the Shibaura Canal Festival are good for planning more weekend outings.
- Like a region’s food? Furusato nozei lets you support a municipality and receive local products as a thank-you gift. Read what changed in furusato nozei this October before you donate.
Details may change, so check the latest information in the official press release and the city flyers linked above.
FAQ
- Q. Is admission free?
- Yes. The event flyer lists admission as free. Products at the sales booths are sold as usual.
- Q. What are the opening hours?
- 10:00 to 18:00 on most days. On Friday, October 30, the market is open until 19:00, and on the final day, Sunday, November 1, it closes at 13:30.
- Q. What is the nearest station?
- Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda and Hanzomon lines. The venue is about a two-minute walk from Exit A3.
- Q. When is the talk session?
- The press release does not give times for the talk session or the hands-on activities. Check the official flyer from Makurazaki City before you go.
- Q. Can I buy katsuobushi and shochu to take home?
- Yes. Katsuobushi, sashimi, satsuma-age, authentic shochu, tea and knives are on sale throughout the event.