Their oysters are sold under the brand name of “Karatomari Ebisu Oysters”. “Karatomari” is the name of the district where their oyster farm is located and “Ebisu” is the Japanese god of fishermen and luck. There is also a shrine dedicated to Ebisu in the same district.

In 2003 the Fishermen’s Association of Karatomari opened an oyster hut to give the public a place to enjoy their fresh oysters.

The oyster hut was renovated and expanded in the year 2007, allowing for up to 320 guests, and making it the first authentic Oyster Hut in Fukuoka Prefecture to offer delicious charcoal-grilled oysters.

Their large chewy oysters are not only delicious but also undergo rigorous food-safety controls to ensure that you can safely enjoy each bite. This oyster hut draws not only local customers from Fukuoka but also tourists from all over Japan and abroad.

Here are some of the reasons why you simply must try “Karatomari Ebisu Oysters” even though it’s a bit far from the center of the city.

First you will choose and order your oysters (1kg or 500g).

After you have paid, take your oysters and you will be shown to your table.
(※Credit cards and e-money not accepted)

You will have a spectacular view of the water from your table.

Next, follow the instructions on your table to cook the oysters.

Step 1 Grill!
Place the flat side of the oyster face down.
Oyster juice might squirt out from the part that is circled on the left side of the picture.

To prevent this from happening, turn oysters sideways as shown.
※Don’t place oysters where you see flames as this could cause them to burn.

Step 2 Grill!
Grill the flat side for about 2 minutes. When you see juice start to come out, it’s time to flip.
*This time place them sideways as well.

When you see the oysters begin to open up, thoroughly grill for an additional 2 minutes.

Step3 Enjoy!
Use an oyster knife to remove the oyster from its shell as shown in the left side of the picture.

To prevent burns, please take care when enjoying the oysters even if wearing gloves as the oyster juice is very hot. You can also use the wet towel provided to protect your hands.

Sometimes you may find white bumps on some oysters. These are just oyster eggs and completely safe to eat.

As you can see, your chewy, creamy grilled oysters will be ready to eat in just minutes!

Pour some Ponzu* sauce… (*soy sauce and citrus juice blend).
(You can pour the Ponzu sauce into empty shells, using them as plates.)

In addition to oysters, there are a variety of other options available such as scallops, shrimp, squid, oyster rice and rice balls.
Did you know butter makes scallops even tastier?

The oyster hut is always full of oyster lovers. It is so popular that there is often a long line on weekends and holidays.

After we finished our oysters, we visited the Karatomari fishing harbor and got to see the full oyster production process.

The oysters are first separated by size. This process is all done by hand, removing any empty shells in the process.

The shells are then polished to give them a smooth finish. This process is also done completely by hand.

The oysters are then washed using filtered sterilized seawater.

They are then kept in a tank of running seawater sterilized using ultraviolet and ozone sterilization methods (to prevent the spread of norovirus) for at least 24 hours prior to shipment. This process completely removes all germs and dirt from the oysters.

Thanks to their exacting safety standards and quality control, not only are these oysters used in luxury hotels and famous restaurants, but they are also even shipped abroad to Hong Kong.

The oysters in the water tank looked perfect after being left there for nearly 24 hours.

In addition to their strict safety measures, the facilities undergo a thorough health inspection each month, so we can recommend “Karatomari Ebisu Oysters” to you with confidence.

 “Karatomari Ebisu Oysters” were even selected as the 2^nd best oysters in Japan in 2012 by a panel of 50 oyster connoisseurs.

The best season for oysters is during the coldest part of winter from December to February.  Why not try some “Karatomari Ebisu Oysters”, which are not only delicious but also meet the most exacting of safety standards, together with your friends and family?

<Karatomari Ebisu Oyster hut>
■Location
Karatsumori Ebisu Kakigoya (Kota, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi)
■Opening Season
Every year from early November to the end of March
■Opening Hours
[Weekdays] 11am to 5pm (Last order 4:30pm)
[Weekends and holidays] 11am to 6pm (Last order 5:00pm)
■Closed
Tuesdays ※Open on Tuesdays which are public holidays
New Year’s Holiday Season 
Please check related website for more information.

■Access
<By public transportation>
JR Chikuhi Line – Get off at “Kyudaigakkentoshi”
Take “Showa” bus (Nishi no Ura Line) from the station
Get off at “Umizuri Koen Mae” 

※Showa bus rime table(Nishi no Ura Line) weekday weekend & holiday
※Direct buses「West Coast Liner」are available from Hakata and Tenjin

<By car>
17min from Susenji IC, Imajuku Bypass
21min from Imajuku IC, Imajuku Bypass
25min from Jurokucho IC, Imajuku Bypass