Hakata Station is the largest terminal station in Kyushu, with 200,000 people using it every day. While walking around the station, I found a place that was sparkling and shining. It made me forget that I was in Hakata Station. It felt like I was in a port town market, maybe in Karatsu, Shimonoseki, Choshi, Kesennuma, or Hakodate, with the smell of the sea, the sound of waves, and the cries of seagulls almost palpable. The fresh fish was dazzling and cheap. I gave up on the Karatsu abalone and bought a few pieces of sashimi instead. The freshness was outstanding and delicious. I was born and raised in Shimonoseki, a city surrounded by the sea on three sides - the Hibiki Nada to the west, the Kanmon Straits to the south, and the Suo Nada to the east - and even as someone picky about fish, I was extremely, extremely satisfied. This is truly a treasure trove of the sea.

"Plenty of seafood bowl at Takadaya Kahei in Hakata Station. September 29, 2018. Theme: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City / Hakata Station area. Returning directly from Hakata Station. Feeling a bit lowly and looking for something cheap, I headed to Takadaya Kahei. They sell regular fish but also have ramen, mentaiko, and other souvenirs for tourists. Among them, there was a seafood bowl with salmon, amberjack, and octopus for 520 yen, which was 20% off. It's a good deal. This place is also convenient as a reasonably priced deli. They accept Suica too. Store information: Takadaya Kahei, 092-441-6457, Hakata-ku, Hakata Station Chuo-gai 1- Maring. Business hours: 09:00-21:00."

The joy of being able to eat mackerel sashimi on the Shinkansen train is truly amazing. The high level of quality in Hakata is impressive.

The takeout sushi is cost-effective. The sashimi of hirasu is also good with a firm texture.

The shinkansen ride from Hakata to Nagoya is quite long, so I decided to look for some snacks at the souvenir corner. I stumbled upon a lively section where they were selling fresh fish and dried seafood. There were colorful sushi packs in the refrigerated counter, packed with a variety of sushi. Surprisingly, you could get 2 packs for only 1080 yen! I couldn't resist and bought two packs - one was "Kahei Sushi" and the other was "Mackerel Pressed Sushi". Both packs were labeled at 720 yen each, but the deal was 2 packs for 1080 yen! I enjoyed the sushi on the shinkansen - the Kahei Sushi had a variety of fish and the rice was surprisingly thick, while the Mackerel Pressed Sushi had a generous portion of mackerel and seaweed. The vinegar seasoning was just right. It was a great find and I recommend it as a snack for the journey back home.

Fukuoka souvenirs must include mentaiko! Last time, I couldn't buy the mentaiko from Takadaya Kahei, the fish market at the station, because it was under renovation. I'm a huge fan of their mentaiko! This time, I finally got it! The store and the mentaiko are both amazing! The home-cut mentaiko 500g is so delicious. Even when lightly grilled, it's incredibly tasty and goes well with rice. So delicious!

Shopping at Hakata Station. Nowadays, mentaiko is a must-have item when returning from Hakata. It's more like a food item than a souvenir. I often go to Kokura Station, but surprisingly, it has been a while since I visited Hakata. The souvenir corner has been renovated and completely transformed. It was a bit surprising. Although it is basically in the same location, I felt like I might get lost (laughs). The previous market-like atmosphere is gone, and it feels a bit lonely, but it was very beautiful. I bought my usual discounted "kireko" and headed home. It's convenient that Suica can be used.

There is a fish shop at Hakata Station Minagu. Before the renovation, it had a liquor store-like market feel, and I have used it a few times after work. Going back after a long time, it has been renovated and looks nice. They have fresh fish, but also a lot of good processed products for souvenirs due to its location at Hakata Station. The mentaiko section is large. They also have dried fish and affordable sushi. I bought a few items because they were heavy, and the prices are inclusive of tax. - Squid with a crunchy texture (356 yen) ... There is not much squid, a softer texture would be more delicious. - Squid with sea urchin (648 yen) ... There is plenty of squid in this. It's a bit salty when eaten alone, but it's just right when eaten with rice. - Sake lees-marinated scallop (540 yen) ... This is delicious. Not only the scallop but also the sake lees have a good taste. - Sardines (8 pieces, 280 yen), Horse mackerel in sweet mirin sauce (4 pieces, 432 yen) ... I forgot to take a photo of the grilled ones. The sardines are average, but the "horse mackerel in sweet mirin sauce" has a rich flavor and tastes good. Since it is located inside Hakata Station and the dried fish items are more affordable than department stores, it may be convenient to use. I'm not sure what criteria to use to evaluate each item, so I will refrain from giving a rating. m(__)m

Inside JR Hakata Station's station building, there is a fish shop located in the Mine Ming "Umaka Street." In addition to fresh fish and seafood products, they also sell sashimi and nigiri sushi. When I asked a young person who was going to Fukuoka for training to bring back battera for me, it didn't seem to work. Does battera not work with the Heisei generation? When I told them about "mackerel pressed sushi," what was delivered was this. The young person said, "This one looks more delicious." It seems like they shook it quite a bit before bringing it. When I opened the package labeled "premium nigiri," some tobiko that was hidden somewhere scattered. Some parts have turned yellow, but it shows the shop's dedication to "premium." The shape of the shari seems to be from a machine, and even when picked up with chopsticks, it feels firm. The taste when it touches the tongue is cool and slightly firm, but it spreads smoothly in the mouth. The shari has a slight sweetness, but considering it is a takeaway, it is good. The thick toppings are also good, and considering the 30-minute travel time from purchase, the freshness is good. But well, maybe it's better not to have nigiri as a takeaway. I feel more comfortable eating pressed sushi or nori rolls. It's just a personal preference.

Looking for souvenirs at Hakata Station's Main Building. Takadaya Kahei offers a wide variety of seafood souvenirs, as the sign says "station fish market". They have freshly caught fish, dried fish, delicacies, and more. The dried fish looked fresh and delicious. They also have a variety of sushi, and a large section dedicated to mentaiko. They seem to have almost all Hakata souvenirs available. I bought vegetable tempura because it was very affordable, 5 pieces for 200 yen, which is considered irregular. The tempura was delicious, with the flavor of the fish still intact.

This shop sells sushi, sashimi, and dried fish. There is also a related izakaya nearby. I often buy sushi for lunch on my way home. This time, I bought sushi again. There were fewer options on the 6th, but the tuna still looked delicious. I purchased a sushi with otoro this time. The thickly sliced fish always allows me to savor the taste. I took a photo at the airport before eating. The shrimp was sweet and delicious. The white fish and kanpachi were also tasty. And finally, I tried the otoro. Delicious! The richness of the tuna envelops my mouth. This is why I come here to buy it. I had pickled ginger as a palate cleanser, then tried the sea urchin. The generous portion allowed the flavor of the sea urchin to spread. I had pickled ginger again before trying the gunkan. The tuna flavor was great again this time. I enjoyed it once again. Thank you for the meal.

The dish and its contents: Iki Uni from Nagasaki Prefecture, with a generous 170g serving from Amagokoro Honpo. The company has its main office in Fukuoka, a branch office in Tokyo, and a manufacturing plant in Nagasaki, specializing in seafood production and distribution. They are particularly known for having the highest sales of uni in Japan. At the Uni Honpo store, they offer uni rice seasoning, traditional Japanese sweets made with uni, and even pre-packaged bento boxes (available for delivery). The menu at the Iki Uni Restaurant includes fresh uni rice bowls, uni set meals, Iki beef, and more. I would love to visit Iki again sometime. Every now and then, I crave something rich and creamy for my evening drink snack, so I decided to purchase this. The creamy texture and oceanic aroma are delightful. You can enjoy it with soy sauce, wasabi, or wrapped in roasted seaweed. The natural orange color is also very appetizing. It's great on top of a generous serving of rice or in a uni pasta dish. Thank you, Amagokoro Honpo and Takadaya!

They were saying something about not needing to throw away the writing, but let's go out into the city, they said. After meeting at Hakata Station, we decided to check out some souvenirs at the station building. We noticed a few izakaya-style restaurants adjacent to the souvenir shop and ended up getting sucked in. We sat at a table near the entrance and toasted with a beer, pledging to have a successful evening. We ordered some fresh squid sashimi, sesame mackerel, and salted fish roe as a greeting. The fresh squid was a bit lower in quality compared to the fresh ones in the city. It lacked firmness and color, probably because they used pre-cut squid. However, the fried squid legs they served after the meal were delicious. A true fried food lover's delight. The sesame mackerel was also lacking in texture. Having experienced mackerel with a crispier bite, this one fell short. Being in the station area, it seemed to cater more towards tourists or casual diners. I must say, I prefer Izumita in Tokyo much more. Starting with a loss in the first round due to the typical pattern of not going out into the city, I consoled myself with the thought that a winning streak awaits me in the future. And with that, I headed towards Nakasu, the original destination. On a side note, the name of this restaurant doesn't really reflect the essence of Fukuoka at all.

Seafood bowl purchased at 20% off. If you're lucky late at night, you might even get it at half price, with a 20% discount, so it's worth a shot! The original price was 580 yen. I wonder if they use the leftover parts of the fish... All the fish were delicious! But overall, it's like a seafood bowl you could buy at a supermarket.

I went late at night, so I got a half price deal. The shop offers sashimi and fish dishes. This time, I bought simmered mackerel for 398 yen, but got it for half price at 199 yen. Other sashimi was also half price. The mackerel had a lot of bones and was a bit difficult to eat, but the seasoning was great. For 200 yen, I am satisfied with my purchase!

After purchasing souvenirs for a business trip in Hakata, I came to find a snack to enjoy on the Shinkansen ride back. I wasn't satisfied with the options at the station earlier, so I wandered around looking for something light to nibble on. I spotted mackerel sushi and whale sashimi. After some deliberation, I chose the mackerel and also bought frozen shrimp paste. Since I bought some spicy cod roe from Sakae Suisan, it can double as a cooling pack (laughs). I enjoyed munching on them in the car (couldn't take photos due to the crowds). It's amazing that you can buy sushi of this quality at the station. While not thick, it had a good thickness. The vinegar seasoning was just right, enhancing the flavor of the mackerel. There was a passenger next to me eating a sandwich, but I definitely won this round (laughs). Beer goes down smoothly now! I plan to make shrimp balls with the frozen paste I brought back and throw them into a hot pot. I'm looking forward to it already!

I always buy spicy mentaiko at Hakata Station. I bought it quickly at the usual place. It's a good deal to buy the sliced one for home use. This time, I chose mentaiko from Fukusaya. The spiciness is just right. It's scary how quickly you can eat a lot of rice with it.

I traveled from Hakata to Oita by express train. While looking for a place to have a light meal and beer, I wandered around the station building. I found a regular fish market and souvenir shop. There were many options, but I decided to try the bara chirashi here in Oita. I enjoyed it at Sonic. It had tuna, squid, and some kind of white fish. The vinegared rice was also delicious. It paired well with the beer. Thank you for the meal.