Kuromon Market is a popular food street known for its fresh produce and unique consumer goods. Here’s a brief guide to this cool marketplace.
An iconic entrance
Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場), literally translating to “Black Gate Market,” is a popular fresh food street located in the heart of Osaka.
The grand entrance is denoted by the big red lantern reading “Kuromon” in Japanese kanji, and the accompanying white lanterns that spell out “Kuromon Ichiba” a.k.a Kuromon Market.
Other than the big lanterns, the street is immediately recognizable by its long corridor featuring fresh food shops on the left and right. You will also see locals and tourists flooding the vicinity and the air will smell like fresh seafood.
Flying sea creatures!
As you walk through the vibrant halls of Kuromon Market, your attention will be drawn to the big sea creatures hanging from the ceiling. These monuments aren’t just for show, as they symbolize the types of fish that can be purchased in the area.
From flying octopi to giant squid and huge tuna statues, you’ll almost feel like you’re at the bottom of the ocean at Kuromon Market. Of course, this signals the presence of fresh sashimi stalls, takoyaki (octopus ball) stands, and fried calamari shops.
Delicious street food
If you’re looking for a good feed at Kuromon Market, I’d highly suggest trying a seafood dish. This delicious plate of boiled seafood, tofu, and vegetables is known as “oden” (おでん), loosely translating to fish cake stew.
There is also an abundance of fresh salmon and tuna sashimi stores that sell some of the most refreshing raw fish in Japan. Of course, you should expect to pay a little extra for the high level of freshness that comes with these dishes.
Tea leaves, spices, and more!
Not everything at Kuromon Market needs to be eaten on the spot, as there is a variety of take-home products on offer too. Some shops sell premium tea leaf products such as matcha green tea and roasted hojicha tea.
There’s also a variety of seasonings and spices on offer to enrich your home cooking recipes. You can also purchase fresh seafood such as raw fish in bulk, allowing you to cook up homemade hotpot dishes or slice up some sashimi plates.
Unique delicacies
I bet you’ve never seen a black-colored gelato cone before, but at Kuromon Market anything is possible. The black color is derived from the remains of charred and processed pure virgin coconut shells.
Other rare flavors include black sesame soy milk, raw chocolate, and peach sherbet. Kuromon Market not only offers unique goods in the form of food and drink but also a plethora of interesting gaccha pod machines.
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