Let's Head to the Sea! BBQ Lunch at the Oyster Huts
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
By Toshio Hanatani
Local in Toba
All-You-Can-Eat Oysters: A Welcome for International Guests
Uramura's "oyster huts" are restaurants where you can enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters. Every year, from autumn to early spring, the area is so popular that large parking lots fill up with cars from all over the country. Once you experience eating fresh oysters grown in the sea right before your eyes, grilled and served piping hot, it is easy to see why it becomes addictive. However, we know that making a reservation for the first time might feel a bit uncertain, so here is a guide to help you through the process.
Finding the Right Shop
The all-you-can-eat service is generally by reservation only. Prices, time limits, and menu contents vary by shop, so it is a good idea to compare their websites. We recommend checking the Uramura Oyster Map (link at the bottom) to get an overview of the area. While you can make inquiries or reservations by phone, most shops find it difficult to respond in foreign languages. Booking through their website is the most reliable method.
For transportation, a rental car or taxi is convenient. If you prefer public transport, use the Toba City Loop Bus. Since the all-you-can-eat sessions have fixed start and end times, be sure to check the arrival and departure times for the nearest bus stop in advance.
Grill Them Yourself or Have Them Served Just Right
All-you-can-eat shops generally fall into two categories: the BBQ style, where you grill them yourself on a roaster at your table, or the order style, where you order from the staff and they grill them for you.
The benefit of the BBQ style is that you can adjust the grilling time to your liking. While the grill is covered, you do not need to worry, but do be careful as shells can occasionally pop and spray hot juice. With the order style, the staff will provide oysters grilled to perfection.
Once they are ready, put a glove on one hand, insert a knife into the hot oyster, cut the adductor muscle, and enjoy. Place the empty shells into the provided buckets or tubs. When your basket is empty, simply go to the designated area to get a refill. From there, it is an endless loop until the time limit is up.
Shops provide condiments to change up the flavor, and some even allow you to bring your own. Soy sauce and lemon juice are the classics, but some people find that mayonnaise or Tabasco works well too. Often, these meals come as a set with oyster rice, miso soup, or fried oysters, and you can also order additional side dishes.
Drinks may be ordered separately or purchased from vending machines inside. Alcohol usually centers on beer and sake. Some shops allow you to bring your own drinks, so it is best to check when you make your reservation.
Featured Shops
The oyster huts in Uramura are concentrated along the coast of the Motoura district, with about 20 shops total when including the Imaura area and those along the Pearl Road. Here are two picks.
Maruzen Suisan offers a dining area located right on top of a raft. It is truly a floating restaurant. While you are protected from the wind and rain by a roof and walls, you are completely surrounded by the sea outside the windows. With 18 tables and a capacity of about 90 people, it is also suitable for groups. In the adjacent facility, you can see oysters being pulled from the boats and processed, which feels like a small educational field trip.
Another great option is Kakiichi Daikichi, located along the Pearl Road. Here, both grilled and steamed oysters are included in the all-you-can-eat deal, and staff prepare them at the shop's grilling station. It is also possible to visit without doing the all-you-can-eat option; grilled oysters can be ordered individually for 200 yen each. Their "Gangan-yaki," a tin filled with 20 steamed oysters, is the perfect amount for two or three people to share. They have a wide variety of side dishes like oyster gratin, oyster kimchi, and oyster cream croquettes. Be sure to check the daily specials listed inside the shop, such as their limited-quantity set meals.
You can read more about the dedication to oyster farming at Uramura Sea Farm, which operates both Maruzen Suisan and Kakiichi, in this article (*2).
The all-you-can-eat season in the Uramura area generally runs from early November to the beginning of April. This varies by shop and depends on the harvest outlook.
Go Deeper
The size and flavor of the oysters change significantly between the start of the season in autumn and the end in spring. According to local experts, the meat is young with a pure taste early in the season, while from February onwards, they become plump and rich. You might want to visit a few times to find the period that best suits your taste.
