Hirome Market, Kochi’s beloved gathering place for shared tables, local flavors and friendly faces

Just a stone’s throw from Kochi Castle, Hirome Market offers a nostalgic feel with its festival-like stalls, shared tables and local delicacies. The city’s famously friendly atmosphere continues into its eating hub, offering over 60 stalls selling everything from fresh fish to clothes, with information about local tourism dotted throughout. The bigger cities may have huge complexes housing individual restaurants, but where else can you choose a smorgasbord of dishes and grab a seat around a shared table, meeting families, students alongside other travelers all in one spot?

While it feels like a city cornerstone, the market only opened in 1998, but its nickname dates back to a distant chief who once served four successive feudal lords. Much loved by the Kochi City residents, Fukao Hirome Shigeaki had his impressive family home close to the castle, and while it was lost many years ago, the area was still known as Hirome’s mansion. So, when the spot was chosen for the city’s new market, it only made sense to remember the popular local through food, drink and merriment.

Katsuo no tataki—Kochi’s beloved take on seared skipjack tuna

Open from morning late into the evening, it’s the perfect place to enjoy any (or all!) of your meals, with a mix of local specialties and international dishes. It’s common to order a selection of dishes and snacks from different stalls and gather at a communal table. Day drinking is a social hobby here in laid-back Kochi, and a friendly “Kanpai!” (cheers) to your fellow diners is always a popular opener. The shared tables also offer a great chance to get recommendations on dishes to try, with a friendly mix of visitors and locals dining together.

Inaka-zushi, Kochi’s rustic vegetable-topped sushi with centuries of local flavor

Some of the most popular local dishes include katsuo, known in English as skipjack tuna, and more commonly used in Japan to make bonito flakes and as the base of dashi stock. In fact, Kochi has the highest katsuo consumption in the country, and they certainly know how to make the most of its delicious flavor. The most common option is a simple katsuo no tataki, which sees the fresh fish seared on straw before being sliced and served with a simple garnish of green onion and Japanese ginger. Alternatively, it can be served hot with salt, as a moreish shio tataki which goes perfectly with a cold beer. Another favorite is inaka-zushi, meaning “countryside sushi,” which uses preserved seasonal vegetables to top vinegar rice, offering a flavorful alternative that’s perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Top the meal off with a fun local sweet treat of Boshi Pan, a sweet bread shaped like a little hat, with a soft sponge top and a crispy rim. Be it in drinks, as a garnish or in desserts, you’ll no doubt spot that yuzu, a tasty citrus fruit, is one of Kochi’s signature ingredients, so be sure to enjoy the tangy taste wherever you see it.

Kochi Castle’s historic tower standing bright and bold against the blue

Once you’ve filled up and made some friends, you can head out to explore the sights of Kochi right on the market’s doorstep. Its great central location means you’re just minutes from the castle grounds with the Kochi Castle Museum of History en route. The only castle in Japan with both its original tower and main keep, Kochi’s symbol is a striking white landmark, especially when framed by spring’s cherry blossoms. And if you’re craving even more local flavor, the Kochi Sunday Market delivers: Japan’s largest open-air market has been running for more than 300 years, offering fresh produce, regional specialties and local crafts every week.

For more details, contact DMC Japan to discuss ideas, locations and rates.
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