Boarding a Fishing Boat to Give Thanks for the Blessings of Sea and Mountains

This fishing boat ride tour is guided and piloted by Katsuhisa Tokai of IMATO Co., Ltd., an active fisherman who is also engaged in fresh fish sales, seafood processing, and marine tourism. The tour travels between Himi Fishing Port and Shinminato Fishing Port along the western coast of Toyama Bay, offering a rare opportunity to admire the Tateyama Mountain Range from the sea.

Toyama Bay is an inner bay of the Sea of Japan with an exceptionally rare topography, where waters reach depths of 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet). In comparison, the Tateyama Mountain Range rises to heights of 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) directly opposite. This dramatic vertical landscape, with a height difference of nearly 4,000 meters (about 13,100 feet), has shaped Toyama’s food culture, including its sushi traditions, as well as the daily lives of its people. This journey allows participants to experience the vast natural water cycle that flows from the mountains, through rivers and into the sea.

Because the cruise is conducted on a working fishing boat rather than a sightseeing ferry, the deck sits low to the water, and once out in the bay, the undulating sea surface feels strikingly close. As the boat picks up speed, sea spray splashes aboard, creating an immersive experience that engages all five senses and offers firsthand insight into the conditions under which fishermen harvest the bounty of the sea.

As the fishing boat approaches Shinminato, it passes the Shinminato West Breakwater Lighthouse, the tall ship Kaiou Maru, and the Shinminato Bridge. The route continues through industrial areas and flocks of seabirds before entering the Uchikawa River, which runs through the heart of a fishing town, and finally reaching the disembarkation point.

Caption: Along the Uchikawa River near Shinminato Fishing Port

The moment participants step back onto land, they are met with a gentle sense of relief mixed with exhilaration. It is a transformative journey that prompts a renewed awareness of the value of fish and the realities of the fishing industry, revealing how profoundly one’s perspective can change from before boarding to after the voyage.

Contact Information
IMATO Co., Ltd.
Address: 3-1-6 Honmachi, Imizu City, Toyama, Japan
Contact: Inquiry form

Photo by: Kenta Nakajima