Images: Ōma, Aomori Prefecture: Home of Japan’s Most Sought-After Tuna

This prize tuna sold for ¥114.24 million at the first auction of 2024. The black sticker on the gills identifies the fish as “Ōma tuna.” The town’s name has become a byword for quality. (© Jiji)

Ōma fishing port. The white building on the right of the picture is the Ōma Fisheries Cooperative. (© Nippon.com)

Ōma terminal and the Tsugaru Kaikyō ferry that plies the route between Honshū and Hokkaidō. A rental car office is also nearby. (© Nippon.com)

Welcome to the northernmost point on the island of Honshū. (© Nippon.com)

This monument depicts the epic struggle between local fishermen and the record-breaking 440-kilogram tuna. (© Nippon.com)

The red building to the left of the Cape Ōma lighthouse is the Benten Shintō shrine. Beyond the island, the mountains of Hakodate can be seen. From here, it is just 17.5 kilometers to Cape Shiokubi on Hokkaidō. (© Nippon.com)

These stone markers commemorate the visit of Ishikawa Takuboku. Ōmori beach in Hakodate also claims to be the site that inspired his famous verse. Traveling by ferry allows poetry-lovers to visit both sites, just to be on the safe side. (© Nippon.com)

The Ōma Tourist Souvenir Center sells a range of seafood products and fluffy souvenirs. One popular choice is the certificates (top right) showing that the holder has visited the northernmost point in Honshū (¥200). (© Nippon.com)

The restaurant Ōmanzoku offers a popular range of satisfying tuna options, including a selection of different cuts of tuna (top right, ¥3,960) and various tuna rice bowls (¥3,960) and sashimi teishoku sets. Deep-fried tuna is also on the menu. (© Nippon.com)

The quay in front of the Ōma Fisheries Cooperative. (© Nippon.com)

A newly landed tuna is hoisted up by crane. The local fishing methods make it possible to haul in even the largest catch without damaging the fish. (© Amazing Aomori)

A worker gets to work on a tuna carcass as part of a show at a Sunday “Maguro Day” event. (© Amazing Aomori)

Hama-zushi’s selection of different cuts of tuna sushi is the ideal way to savor the local delicacy. Goes well with a few glasses of local sake! (© Nippon.com)

Restaurant owner Itō Masato ensures that the local tuna is always served at its best. (© Nippon.com)

The atmospheric area around the fishing harbor. (© Nippon.com)

The Ōma Inari Shrine was built in 1730. (© Nippon.com)

Sightseeing boats leave from Sai port and take around 90 minutes to cruise the scenic scenery of Hotoke-ga-ura, with time for a stroll on the beach. (© Amazing Aomori)

These rock formations are an impressive sight when seen at close quarters. The winding footpath down to the shoreline takes 15 to 20 minutes each way from the parking area. (© Nippon.com)