Enjoy eating squid in various ways! ｜Introducing squid from Yobuko, Karatsu!

There are many reasonably priced and delicious foods in Kyushu compared to Tokyo, but in Karatsu and Yobuko in Saga, squid is famous.

There are squid available in Karatsu and Yobuko all year round, such as Yari-ika, mizu-ika, kou-ika, and sasai-ika, and this time of year, the Yari-ika is very tasty.

Another interesting thing about squid is that there are many different ways to eat it.

You can enjoy squid in various ways, such as dancing and eating fresh squid raw, adding it to salads, making shumai, and making tempura.

In addition, while eating squid, it is recommended to visit the morning market in Yobuko or take a cruise on a sightseeing boat to enjoy the surrounding tourist spots.

So, in this article, I will explain about squid in Karatsu and Yobuko, its history, attractive points, recommended famous restaurants and sightseeing spots in the area, including my experience.

Why are squid from Karatsu and Yobuko famous in the first place?

Yobuko Town in Karatsu City in northwestern Saga Prefecture is nationally known as the “town of squid.

In particular, “squid ikizukuri” is a specialty, and many tourists visit the town in search of this clear and fresh squid.

Yobuko is also famous as one of the three major morning markets in Japan, and its history as a port town and the abundant seafood from the Genkai Sea are attractive.

Squid is also a beloved symbol of the city, and is so deeply connected to the culture of the area that squid motifs are used on everything from sightseeing boats to souvenirs and even Christmas trees in winter.

In fact, the fame of Yobuko’s squid is not merely due to the amount of squid caught.

Although Saga Prefecture ranks about 24th in terms of national catch, the high quality of the high-end Yari and Kensaki squid, as well as the local techniques and environment that make the best use of them, have established Yobuko’s squid’s fame.

As a port town with a history of more than 300 years, this area has taken advantage of the bounty of the Genkai Sea, a rich fishing ground.

Why is the squid from Karatsu and Yobuko particularly delicious?

There are three main reasons why Yobuko squid is especially delicious.

The first is the fish tank environment with nutrient-rich seawater.

Yobuko Bay is served as a breakwater by Kabe Island, which creates tidal currents in the bay, so the seawater is always clean.

Many restaurants draw seawater directly from the Genkai Sea and fill their fish tanks with nutrient-rich seawater containing plankton, so the squid retains its original sweetness and flavor.

The second is the skill and ingenuity of the chefs.

In Yobuko’s squid live cooking, it is important to cut the squid quickly.

Squid needs to be rinsed with water when it spits ink, which causes the flesh to become cloudy, so quick cooking is essential to maintain its transparency.

In addition, the unique sweetness of squid lies between the pigmented skin and the flesh, so the sweetness is preserved by not wiping off the water.

When eating squid, it is characterized by a crispy texture followed by a sweet taste that spreads in the mouth.

Third is the consistent attention to freshness from the fisherman to the cooking process.

Fishermen do not touch squid with their bare hands (because the warmth of their hands can kill the squid), and they fish without any human touch.

By minimizing the time between landing and cooking, the squid can be served in its best condition.

The trinity of the sea, people, and technology unique to this region supports the delicious taste of squid.

Three Attractions of Karatsu and Yobuko Squid

I summarized some of the attractions of squid in Karatsu and Yobuko.

Amazing clarity and sweetness – an impressive experience of “ikizukuri

The greatest appeal of squid “ikizukuri” from Karatsu and Yobuko is its amazing transparency and sweetness.

In particular, fresh Yari squid (squid) is characterized by its shiny transparent flesh, and its natural sweetness that fills the mouth after a crunchy texture is exquisite.

Many people say they cannot forget the shock they felt when they first tasted it.

The fresh squid is taken out of the fish tank after being ordered, and is quickly processed by the chefs. This prevents the squid from spitting ink and keeps the flesh clear.

In addition to “squid sashimi,” you can also enjoy “atozukuri,” a dish in which the part of the squid that is the belly is cooked in tempura or grilled with salt, providing a luxurious experience in which you can taste all the squid you want.

Top quality produced by the blessings of the Sea of Genkai and local techniques

The reason why the squid from Karatsu and Yobuko is so special is the fusion of the world-class fishing grounds of the Genkai Sea and local traditional techniques.

These waters are a nutrient-rich fishing ground where the Tsushima Current flows, producing high-quality squid.

At local stores, seawater pumped directly from the Genkai Sea is circulated through fish tanks to keep squid in a nutrient-rich environment that contains plankton.

Fishermen also do not touch the squid with their bare hands (as the warmth of their hands can kill the squid), and everything from landing to cooking is done in the shortest possible time to keep the squid at its best.

The fishermen and cooks in this region have special know-how to bring out the maximum sweetness of squid with their skills and experience cultivated from generation to generation.

Even though the overall catch of squid in Saga Prefecture is not large, it has earned a national reputation for its high quality.

Diversity of squid and food culture to be enjoyed in all four seasons

One of the attractions of Karatsu and Yobuko is that visitors can enjoy different kinds of squid depending on the season.

From spring to fall (mainly from May to October), “ yari-ika” is the star of the show, known as the “charismatic figure of the squid world” with its sweet, crunchy texture and shiny, clear flesh.

From winter to spring (December to March), “aori squid” (locally called “mizu-ika”) makes its appearance, also known as the “king of squid,” with its thick, soft, and sweet flesh.

In early spring (March to April), “Kou squid” may also be tasted.

In this region, squid is more than just a foodstuff; it has become a cultural symbol.

Squid motifs can be seen everywhere in town, and in winter, a Christmas tree in the shape of a squid even appears.

The Yobuko morning market, one of the three major morning markets in Japan, also offers a wide variety of squid products and continues to attract visitors.

Three famous squid restaurants in Karatsu and Yobuko that I recommend

This time, I would like to introduce my recommended restaurants of squid in Karatsu and Yobuko and their recommended menus.

My recommendation for squid restaurants in Yobuko, Karatsu

Column: Why do squids have 10 legs?

The reason why squid have eight legs and two tentacles has to do with their predatory behavior and evolution.

Cuttlefish are classified in the decapodiform suborder (Decapodiformes) and have evolved to have essentially 10 arms.

The eight legs are used to entangle and immobilize prey, and the two tentacles are used to quickly seize the prey.

This structure allows for efficient predation and has led to the squid’s ecological success.

However, not all squids have 10 arms throughout their lives.

Squids such as the octopus and the lamprey squid have 10 tentacles as juveniles, but as they grow, the tentacles drop off spontaneously and the adult squid has eight tentacles.

Some squids also lose their tentacles when they finish spawning.

This indicates that although the tentacles are useful for catching food, they are not absolutely necessary.

The octopus, on the other hand, lost its tentacles during the evolutionary process and has only eight legs.

It is believed that the common ancestor of the squid and octopus had 10 arms.

Recommended places to stop by in Karatsu and Yobuko while dining

Here are three recommended places to stop by in Karatsu and Yobuko during your meal.

✅ Nanatsugama

Nanatsugama is a representative sightseeing spot in Yobuko. It consists of seven sea-eroded caves excavated over many years by the rough waves of the Genkai Sea.

This breathtaking natural beauty can be enjoyed up close on the sightseeing boat “Ika-maru.

This unique squid-shaped pleasure boat operated by Marine Pal Yobuko offers a 30-minute cruise around the precipitous caves.

Visitors can also observe fish swimming in the Genkai Sea through an underwater window on the whale-motif underwater observation boat “Gira.

This activity to enjoy nature and the marine ecosystem is very popular with families.