Trout fishing in Shiohama

Overall rating: (4 / 5) See bottom of post for details.

Across the river from the main hotels is a small restaurant that allows you to fish for you own “Masu” (a kind of small trout) and have it cooked then and there. After the awful breakfast grilled “Masu” at the Hotel Ohruri, eating the same fish caught live was a refreshing experience for “When Japan”.

Head over by foot and tell the owners how many you plan to eat. You pay up front and fish yourself with rods and bait provided. It isn’t hard as the fish try to jump out of the water to get the bait. You’ll get one fairly quickly.

Larger fish are available but it will cost you around ¥1000 or more. The “Masu” is ¥400 at last information. Ask for Masu Shio-Yaki (in Japanese – マス塩焼き) and say a number plus fingers. They may speak a bit of English; “When Japan” doesn’t remember.

Interestingly, the path away to the right of the restaurant will take you back to the main road. Along the path are some outdoor, free to use public baths that leave nowhere to hide your bit and pieces. “When Japan” saw some old men bathing there last time we went there. By all means you can try the bath out if you have the courage.