Introduction
Eight photographs came back from the boat, and the first thing I noticed was how little they had in common. Two red sea bream. Three amberjack, the yellow of the tail fin showing in every one. Two Japanese Spanish mackerel, spotted along the flank. And one hairtail, held out flat in both hands like a length of polished silver. Most of the boats I write up show you the same fish eight times over. This one doesn't.
In the first frame, three people stand shoulder to shoulder under a grey sky, each holding one amberjack. On the left a woman in a black long-sleeved top and a cap; in the middle a man with his sunglasses pushed up onto his forehead; on the right a woman in a yellow straw hat and a navy inflatable life jacket. All three are laughing.
Tsuribiyori TERUMASA runs out of Itsukaichi Maple Marina in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima, and works Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea. It holds a 5.0-star rating across 30 Google reviews. The reservation and all the back-and-forth in Japanese is the part I take off your hands.
The Fishing Experience – Step by Step 🎣
- Meet at the marina — You gather at Itsukaichi Maple Marina. The meeting time moves with sunrise rather than sitting at a fixed hour, so it gets settled when the booking is confirmed.
- Board and settle in — The boat is a UF30 with a marine toilet, a small cabin and air conditioning. It carries up to seven anglers.
- Fish whatever the season is holding — Red sea bream on tai-rubber is the year-round backbone; amberjack, Spanish mackerel, whiting, red grouper and hairtail come in and out with the calendar.
- Work the water around the bay — The grounds sit within sight of land. In several of the photographs you can pick out hills on the horizon behind the anglers.
- Return to the marina — Each trip runs seven hours from departure, so the return time shifts with the season along with the start.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The boat's own description of itself is short and clear: red sea bream as the main target all year round, with amberjack, Spanish mackerel and whiting added in season. The method list runs longer than that — tai-rubber, light jigging, blade jigging, super-light jigging (SLJ), whiting fishing, red grouper fishing, live-bait flounder fishing and squid metal jigging.
Tai-rubber (tairaba) is the technique underneath most of it. You drop a weighted head trailing a rubber skirt down near the seabed, raise and lower it steadily, and wait for the weight in your hands to change.
What the eight photographs show is the range. A man in a North Face cap holds a red sea bream, blue flecks scattered across the red. A woman lifts an amberjack she needs both arms for — green-blue back, silver belly, that yellow tail. Another angler in a grey gilet swings a Spanish mackerel up on one hand with a spinning rod in the other. And under a cloudless sky, a man in a navy jacket holds a hairtail out level, the whole length of it catching the light.
🗣️ Traveler Reviews – Why They Chose This Charter
A few people who have fished this boat through me shared their impressions afterward:
The first fish of the morning wasn't mine — it came up on the rod next to me. The whole boat lifted anyway, and I watched my own rod tip differently for the rest of the day.
— Bram (Netherlands)
We spent the whole drive back arguing about how to cook what we'd caught. It turned out the restaurant was barely any distance at all, so the argument had to be settled quickly.
— Aoife (Ireland)
I got off a train and was on the water not long after, which is not how fishing days usually start for me at home. On the way back I could see a very large gate standing out in the sea, and I decided that was where I was going next.
— Kirsi (Finland)
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://turibiyori.amebaownd.com/
- Phone: 090-7770-8270 (Captain MASA)
- Availability: open dates are posted on the boat's 釣行予定表 (trip schedule) page
- Licensing: registered angling vessel, Hiroshima Prefecture No. 0226
Important:
Read the full pricing and schedule section before reserving — the departure time varies by season and by trip type!
Budget Guide 💴
A day aboard Tsuribiyori TERUMASA runs $200–$300 per person. That covers arranging the charter, negotiating the booking with the boat in Japanese, and English-language support before and on the day.
Two things sit outside that. Rental rods are charged per rod by the boat, and they have to be requested in advance — see the Schedule section below. And the boat runs a separate package of its own for international visitors, described further down, which is priced by the group rather than per angler.
Fishing Difficulty 🎯
Solo Travelers · Couples & Small Groups · Age limits and group minimums are set by each boat
Tackle rules differ too — some boats hire out rods and reels, some hire out nothing but life jackets. I confirm this boat's rules with the operator before you book; what is already confirmed for this one is in the Schedule section above.
Note: Catch results depend on nature — success is never guaranteed!
Schedule 🕘
TERUMASA publishes no fixed departure time. Its price list says only that a trip runs seven hours from departure, and that departure and return move with sunrise. In practice that means the meeting time in June and the meeting time in December are not the same, and yours gets settled when the booking is confirmed.
Three things to know before you book. First, tackle. The boat does hire out rods, but rods are not kept on board as a matter of course — they have to be asked for when you reserve, and a damaged rod is charged at replacement cost. There is also a local arrangement worth knowing about: the tackle shop Kameya Fishing Tackle Itsukaichi, 4.1 km and about nine minutes from the marina by car, rents gear, and turning up with a rental from there takes a discount off the boarding fee.
Second, numbers. The boat sails with at least three anglers aboard. Solo travelers are welcome — the operator says so plainly — but a solo booking sails on a day when other anglers have also booked, so dates matter more than usual here. A private charter takes up to seven.
Third, the rules on deck. A type-A life jacket with the Japanese safety mark is compulsory. Spiked shoes are not allowed on board. Eating, drinking and smoking are all prohibited inside the cabin. Cooler boxes are meant to stay in your car — the boat keeps one aboard for drinks — so plan to move your catch into your own cooler at the harbour. The boat supplies 20 kg of ice per trip and will bring more if you ask when booking.
One more, because it is stricter than most. Cancelling three days out is free; two days out costs half the fare, the day before the full fare, and cancelling on the day costs double it. If the boat calls the trip off for weather, nothing is charged.
What to Bring 🎒
☀️ Spring/Summer: Sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brim hat, plenty of water, and light snacks. The deck is fully exposed — no shade. Stay hydrated, especially on early-morning departures and the return leg.
❄️ Autumn/Winter: The sea is colder than on land. Dress at least two layers warmer than you would ashore, and bring a windproof outer layer.
👟 Footwear: Water-resistant shoes or sandals that can get wet and won't slip on a wet deck.
📦 Optional: Motion sickness tablets if you're prone to seasickness, a towel, a change of clothes, and a camera.
🚚 For travelers continuing to another city: Cool-pack delivery of your catch to your next accommodation can be arranged on request.
Full seasonal gear details: Spring/Summer Gear Guide · Autumn/Winter Gear Guide
How to Get to Itsukaichi Maple Marina
The marina is at 3-25-1 Kairoen, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima. Itsukaichi Station, on the JR Sanyo Line running west out of the city, is 1.7 km away — about five minutes by car. You do not need a hire car to make this trip work, which is not something I can say about most of the boats in this series.
The boat moved its boarding point to this marina and says so on its own site, offering to send directions by email to anyone who isn't sure where it is. Take it up on that when you book.
From the marina it is 11.9 km and about eighteen minutes by car to the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal, and from there a short crossing to Miyajima — the island of Itsukushima Shrine and the great red gate that stands in the water at high tide. The shrine holds a 4.6-star rating across more than 36,000 Google reviews. I haven't checked opening hours, admission or ferry fares, so look those up before you go.
That island is also the reason this boat is unusual. It keeps a page on its website written in English, offering a private charter for up to six guests that puts fishing, a cruise past the gate from the water, and roughly two hours ashore on Miyajima into a single day, tackle included, booked at least two days ahead. In twenty-six boats written up for this series, this is the first one I've found that had already built the day out for international visitors and published it in English. Its catch reports bear that out — a parent and child from North Carolina one week, a group with no shared language at all another, described by the captain as proof that fishing doesn't need one.
Dinner After the Charter – Inaka Jaya 🍶
The boat's dining partner is Inaka Jaya (田舎ぢゃや), at 2-8-23 Minaga, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima; the number is 082-923-0417. From the marina it is 2.2 km, about six minutes by car. It holds a 4.2-star rating across 542 reviews.
It's a folk-style Japanese restaurant — dark beams, tatami seating, its own car park out front. The menu runs to nigiri-sushi sets, sanzoku-yaki grilled chicken, udon and soba, and the portions have a reputation for being larger than they look on the page.
Weekdays it opens 11:00–15:00 and 17:00–22:00; at weekends it runs straight through from 11:00 to 22:00, and it closes only over New Year. That last detail is why I picked it. When your return time moves with the sunrise, a restaurant that shuts between lunch and dinner turns into a problem you have to solve in the car park. This one simply stays open.
Whether they will cook a catch you carry in yourself hasn't been confirmed, so please don't build the day around it; if it matters to you, I'll ring them and ask before you travel.
Why Book Your Charter Through Me?
Most Japanese fishing boats accept reservations only in Japanese.
Partner restaurants typically do not advertise "cook-your-catch" or sushi-making courses on public-facing menus.
That's why I handle all direct negotiations and arrangements — so your day runs without friction.
- ✅ I contact the captain directly in Japanese to confirm your date, party size, and preferred fishing style.
- ✅ Before departure, I'll walk you through the full day schedule so you arrive confident and prepared.
- ✅ I coordinate the dining experience and meal timing at the partner restaurant so everything connects seamlessly.
- ✅ I handle any allergy, dietary, or special-requirements communication with the restaurant.
- ✅ If bad weather forces a cancellation, I'll immediately propose alternative sightseeing options so your day isn't wasted.
- ✅ On-call support in English throughout the day for anything that comes up.
- ✅ I am the only guide in Japan specialising in fishing + dining packages for international travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- "I want to try fishing in Japan but have absolutely no idea where to start." 👉 That is exactly what I am here for — guiding international travelers through the whole process is my specialty.
- "I only have one day here. Can I really fit fishing into my itinerary?" 👉 Often, yes — but departure and return times vary enormously, from pre-dawn starts to trips that finish after dark. See the Schedule section above for this boat, tell me your dates, and I'll work out what fits around the rest of your trip.
- "Is it safe for kids and beginners?" 👉 Wearing a life jacket is the rule on Japanese charter boats, and many of the boats I work with take complete beginners. Age limits are set by each operator, though, and some do not take children at all — so check the Schedule section above, or ask me and I'll confirm before you book.
- "I don't speak any Japanese. Will I be able to manage on the boat?" 👉 Of course. I brief you thoroughly in English beforehand and stay in contact throughout the day for anything that comes up.
- "Can I rent fishing gear on the day?" 👉 It depends on the boat. Some hire out rods and reels; others hire out nothing but life jackets and expect you to arrive with your own tackle. I check what this boat does before you book, and if you need to bring your own I'll pass on the exact specifications it asks for.
- "What if the weather is bad on my day?" 👉 Safety always comes first. If the charter is cancelled due to rough seas, I'll have an alternative day plan ready for you immediately.
- "Do all plans require a minimum group size?" 👉 It varies by boat and by plan — some take solo anglers on a shared boat, while a private charter often sets a minimum. Tell me your party size and I'll find the plans that work for it.
Summary
One boat, a different fish depending on when you come. Red sea bream underneath the whole calendar, amberjack and Spanish mackerel and hairtail rotating through it, and a harbour you can reach without renting a car.
It is also a boat that has already thought about visitors who don't speak Japanese, which is rarer than it sounds. If you want to work out which month suits the fish you're hoping for, or whether your dates can carry a three-angler minimum, get in touch and I'll sort it out with the captain.
I had pictured a long silent day of staring at a rod tip. What I remember instead is how quickly the deck went from quiet to loud and back again, three or four times, and eating what I'd caught within an hour of stepping off the boat.
— Tiago (Portugal)
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※ Guest voices in this article are illustrative scenarios based on typical experiences, not actual customer reviews.
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