Nokkedon a Build Your Own Seafood Bowl at Aomori Gyosai Center

Nokkedon, enjoyed at the Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Market) in Aomori City, is a seafood bowl unique to Aomori in which you choose fresh treasures of the sea lined up at the market and pile as many as you like onto rice. The greatest charm is being able to combine seasonal toppings caught in the Tsugaru Strait and Mutsu Bay, such as tuna, salmon roe, and scallops, exactly to your taste. You can enjoy both the fun of making it and the joy of eating it at once.

Highlights

The real thrill of nokkedon is, above all, being free to choose your ingredients. First you buy meal tickets at the information counter, exchange them for a bowl of rice at a shop with a red sign, then stroll through the roughly thirty shops inside the market, placing on the toppings that catch your eye one at a time. You are free to build a lavish seafood bowl or a lighter one to your liking. Wrapped in the lively energy of a market lined with fresh toppings, the experience of creating a one of a kind bowl is exceptional.

Enjoying the Seasons

Because the treasures of the sea shift with the seasons, part of the fun is that the toppings on display change with the time of your visit. Winter offers an abundance of richly fatty fish, while spring into summer brings a wealth of shellfish and seasonal fish. Visiting in different seasons lets you taste the peak of each moment in a bowl, with new discoveries every time.

Access and Basic Information

The Aomori Gyosai Center (Furukawa Market) is conveniently located about a ten minute walk from JR Aomori Station. The system is to first buy meal tickets at the information counter and then exchange them for ingredients at the shops inside the market. Nokkedon is generally served from around 7 a.m. until about 4 p.m., and the market is usually closed on Tuesdays (this can change during Golden Week, the Nebuta Festival period, Obon, and the New Year holidays). Since it opens in the morning, it is perfect for breakfast on a trip.

Practical Travel Notes

• Meal tickets come as multi ticket booklets and single tickets, bought first at the information counter. A regular bowl of rice is usually exchanged for one ticket and a large bowl for two.
• Each topping is exchanged one at a time for a ticket, so carrying a few extra tickets lets you casually add more as you walk around the market.
• Since the closing day can shift, it is reassuring to check the latest opening days with Aomori City or the official site before visiting.
• Despite the name, you can also receive the toppings on a plate rather than piled on the rice bowl.

A Quick Tip

The trick is to decide the amount of rice first, then start choosing toppings. If you are too greedy you may not fit everything on, so it is best to go around tasting a little at a time. Asking the shop staff about the seasonal toppings may lead you to an unexpected delight. The earlier in the morning you go, the wider the selection, so aiming for right after opening is a smart choice.