Introduction
Eight photographs came back from this boat, and four of them had children in them. A boy in an EDWIN cap, flashing a peace sign with a red sea bream in his arms. A boy in a blue cap holding his sea bream out one-handed. A boy in a red life jacket lifting his up for the camera. A girl in an orange life jacket with a smaller one on a fish grip, an adult clowning around behind her.
Kaisei fishes out of Kameura Fishing Port in Naruto, Tokushima, on the island of Shikoku. In the first photograph, someone holds up a small grey shark under the boat's sun canopy, and behind them, filling the sky, is the suspension span of the Onaruto Bridge.
The boat's fare table has a category I rarely see: a parent-and-child seat, one place shared by a parent and a child. It holds a 5.0-star rating across 13 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 🎣
- Go straight to the port — Meet at Kameura Fishing Port, in front of the Naruto-cho fishermen's cooperative, and board across the pier. Summer trips run from sunrise to about 13:00, winter trips from sunrise to about 14:00.
- Put on your life jacket — A type-A life jacket is compulsory from the moment you board until you step off.
- Fish the currents of the Naruto Strait — The captain settles the day's target with you and the conditions: sea bream all year, other species by season.
- Keep your catch alive — Fish go into the boat's live well rather than onto ice.
- Back in port, the captain prepares it — He kills each fish by ikejime and destroys the nerve so it stays fresh for the table.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The boat describes its fish as seasonal fish "hardened by the torrents of the Naruto Strait". Tai-rubber for red sea bream runs all year; the rest of the calendar layers on top of it.
- Red sea bream — tai-rubber, tai jigging and sabiki rigs. Tai-rubber is year-round; the sabiki season is planned for late December to March.
- Yellowtail and Spanish mackerel — jigging, planned for July to January.
- Hairtail — jigging and tenya, planned for late August to November.
- Bigfin reef squid — tip-run and omorig, planned for mid-September to early December.
- Filefish and rockfish — filefish planned for October to December, rockfish on sabiki rigs from February to May.
The photographs follow the same pattern: five red sea bream, a man pulling a face with one filefish in each hand, and another man back at the port with a yellowtail he needs both arms to hold — blue-green on the back, silver underneath, a yellow line running from the pectoral fin to the tail.
🗣️ Traveler Reviews – Why They Chose This Charter
A few people who have fished this boat through me shared their impressions afterward:
My daughter spent more time looking at the water than holding the rod, at first. Then she felt one pull, pushed my hands off the reel, and would not let me wind for the rest of the morning.
— Yonatan (Israel)
Back at the port, the whole family stood and watched in silence as our fish were dealt with, one after another, quickly and carefully. For the children I think that stayed with them more than the fishing did.
— Beatriz (Chile)
There was a huge bridge overhead the entire time, and underneath it the sea was moving like a river. Every time I dropped my line it was carried off somewhere I hadn't aimed it.
— Clemens (Austria)
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://narutokaisei.com/
- Restaurant: http://www.arashi-naruto.co.jp/
- Restaurant on Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/tokushima/A3601/A360102/36000020/
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 Kaisei runs $200–$300 per person. That covers arranging the trip, negotiating the booking with the boat in Japanese, and English-language support before and on the day.
A few things sit outside that. Bait and terminal tackle are extra. Rental tackle is available for a separate fee and should be requested when booking; damage from careless handling is charged at cost. Payment on board is cash only. Children's fares and the parent-and-child seat are priced separately, so tell me who is coming and I'll work it out.
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 🕘
Summer trips run from sunrise to around 13:00, winter trips from sunrise to around 14:00. On some days there is a later trip, leaving at 8:30 and returning around 15:00. Private charters can discuss their own hours.
Three things to know before you book. First, the target. The fish are chosen "in consultation with the sea and the customers", and on shared trips the first person to book sets the target — so if you want squid rather than sea bream, it pays to book early.
Second, safety. The type-A life jacket is compulsory, including while boarding and leaving the boat. Whether the boat lends life jackets — including children's sizes — hasn't been confirmed, so I check that when booking. Spiked shoes are not allowed. Spray can come over the side even in fine weather, so bring a rain jacket; in summer, bring a hat and plenty of water; and the boat asks you to take seasickness seriously.
Third, the boat itself. Kaisei Maru is a Yamaha 45-footer, about 14 m long, with GPS sonar, radar and a private toilet cubicle. The shared trips are sized for six to eight anglers.
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 Kameura Fishing Port
The port is at Tosadomariura, Naruto-cho, in Naruto. Go directly to Kameura Fishing Port on the day, to the pier in front of the fishermen's cooperative. The nearest station is Naruto Station on the JR Naruto Line, 9.2 km and about eleven minutes by car; from Tokushima Station it is 24.5 km.
One warning. Search Google Maps for "Kameura" and you may be sent to Kameura Tourist Port, where the whirlpool sightseeing boats leave. That is a different harbour, 1.35 km away in a straight line. Kaisei boards in front of the cooperative.
The boat's own site says there are sightseeing spots within walking distance of the port, and the map bears it out. The Uzu-no-Michi walkway on the Onaruto Bridge is 0.46 km away in a straight line; the Otsuka Museum of Art, rated 4.5 across 15,758 Google reviews, is 0.31 km; the Senjojiki viewpoint is 0.51 km. I haven't checked opening hours, admission or tide times for the whirlpools, so look those up before you go.
Dinner After the Charter – Ajidokoro Arashi 🍶
The dining partner for this boat is Ajidokoro Arashi (味処 あらし), at 51-1 Kitanohama, Okuwajima, Muya-cho, Naruto. From the port it is 8.1 km, about ten minutes by car. It holds a 4.3-star rating across 2,257 Google reviews and was named one of Tabelog's top 100 set-meal restaurants in 2021.
The fish are kept alive in tanks and served as sashimi and tempura set meals; most of the menu changes with the seasons. The miso soup, made with stock from fish bones and loaded with Naruto wakame, has its own following.
It is open 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:30), straight through, and closed on Wednesdays (open on a public holiday, closed the next day instead). That is why I picked it: whichever trip you take, you're back between about 13:00 and 15:00, and the restaurant is open. Two catches — it does not take reservations, and on busy days it may stop seating before last order. It accepts cash or credit card.
Whether they will cook a catch you carry in yourself hasn't been confirmed, so please don't build the day around it. For now, the safer plan is to take home the fish the captain has prepared for you and eat from Arashi's tanks that evening; 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
A roomy boat at the foot of the Onaruto Bridge, fishing the currents of the Naruto Strait, with a fare table that expects families and a captain who prepares every fish by hand before you leave the pier.
If you're bringing children, tell me their ages and I'll confirm life-jacket sizes and the parent-and-child seat with the captain. If you want a particular fish, tell me the month and I'll get your booking in first.
What I remember is how calm my son was on the way back. He sat with his hand on the lid of the cooler the whole drive, as if the fish might try to leave.
— Ingmar (Iceland)
👉 中文咨询请点击此处 ※使用翻译软件进行处理
※ Guest voices in this article are illustrative scenarios based on typical experiences, not actual customer reviews.
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