Introduction
Eight photographs came back from this boat, and not one fish appeared twice. A big-eyed, dark grey fish with a pink-and-white jig still hanging from it. A fish striped with yellow. Two different red groupers. A red sea bream. A squid, held up against an evening sea. A tuna. And a big jack with a yellow line down its side, held up to the chest.
Chihaya Maru sails from Marushima in Sukumo, Kochi, on the island of Shikoku. Its own description is a list of destinations: "Rokunose off Tosashimizu, Okinoshima, the Uwa Sea and inside Sukumo Bay." From a sheltered bay out to open ocean, the range of the trips is the range of the fish.
The boat holds a 4.9-star rating across 23 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 🎣
- Agree the time the day before — Departure changes with the season and the weather, so the time is settled with the captain the day before.
- Board at Marushima — The boat berths at 35 Marushima, Sukumo, 2.7 km from Sukumo Station.
- Put on your life jacket — A life jacket with the Japanese approval mark is compulsory on board.
- Fish a long day — From departure to return: nine hours inside the bay, ten around Okinoshima, eleven towards Ashizuri.
- Take your catch home cold — Fish go into the boat's 200-litre cooler, and the boat supplies around 10 kg of ice per person for the trip home.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
This is a boat that does a bit of everything. One reviewer called the captain an all-rounder: jigging, tai-rubber, swordtip squid, live-bait fishing.
- Squid metal jigging at night — The trip reviewers talk about most. One reports 198 squid in a single outing.
- Tai-rubber and live-bait flounder — Inside Sukumo Bay.
- Jigging and light live-bait — Around Kashiwajima, Okinoshima and further out.
- Big-game live-bait fishing — Towards Ashizuri, by charter only, with just three anglers aboard.
- Tip-run for squid — Also on the list of trips.
In one photograph, a boy holding a red grouper stands in front of the hull, and the number "0563" is painted there — the same as the boat's registration, Kochi No. 0563.
🗣️ Traveler Reviews – Why They Chose This Charter
A few people who have fished this boat through me shared their impressions afterward:
When the lights came on over the dark water, small weights kept landing on the rod tip, one after another. By the time I stopped counting, the squid sashimi I was eating was still translucent.
— Oskar (Sweden)
We spent almost the whole day on the water, from morning until evening. When we got back, the ground still seemed to sway a little under my feet, and even that felt like part of a good day.
— Salma (Morocco)
Every fish that came up was a different colour, and I kept leaning over the side like a child, wondering what would be next.
— Lars (Denmark)
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://www.fishing-guide-chihaya-maru.com/
- Restaurant on Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/kochi/A3904/A390403/39001204/
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 Chihaya Maru 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.
Rod rental is charged separately by the boat, and the boat offers discounts for women, families and students on some trips. How payment is taken on board hasn't been confirmed; I check it when booking.
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 🕘
The departure time changes with the season and the weather and is agreed with the captain the day before. From departure to return is about nine hours inside Sukumo Bay, ten around Okinoshima and eleven towards Ashizuri. Trips to Rokunose may switch to the Okinoshima area on the day, depending on the weather.
Three things to know before you book. First, numbers. Shared trips sail with four anglers or more; with three or fewer, a small surcharge is discussed.
Second, gear and coolers. Fish go into the boat's own 200-litre cooler, so bring only a small cooler for food. For swordtip squid trips, each angler brings their own cooler box and ice. Rental rods are available.
Third, the life jacket. It is compulsory. Whether the boat lends one if you don't have your own hasn't been confirmed, so I check that when booking.
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 Sukumo
The boat berths at 35 Marushima, Sukumo. The nearest station is Sukumo Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway, 2.7 km and about five minutes by car. Sukumo is a long way from Kochi city — 143.0 km from Kochi Station and 157.9 km from Kochi Ryoma Airport — so plan to stay in or near Sukumo the night before.
If you set off from Kochi Station, take a minute in the station square for the Statues of the Three Tosa Samurai — Takechi Hanpeita, Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro, standing side by side. They hold a 4.2-star rating across 326 Google reviews.
Kashiwajima, one of the boat's own fishing areas, is 29.8 km from the berth, about twenty-seven minutes by car. Cape Ashizuri is 64.1 km, about fifty-one minutes, and holds a 4.4-star rating across 2,584 Google reviews. I haven't checked parking or what's open, so look those up before you go.
Dinner After the Charter – Izakaya Igosso 🍶
The dining partner for this boat is Izakaya Igosso (居酒屋 いごっそ), a tuna-focused izakaya at 2-1-4 Konandai, Sukumo. From the berth it is 2.9 km, about four minutes by car. It holds a 4.5-star rating across 189 Google reviews.
According to the Kochi local site Guruguru Kochi, the owner grew up on Okinoshima — one of the islands Chihaya Maru fishes around — and went to sea on deep-sea tuna boats at sixteen. Reviewers talk about the tuna served several ways and the sushi, and describe it as a busy place full of locals.
It opens 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:00) and is closed on Mondays. Even after a ten- or eleven-hour trip, you'll be back in time. It takes reservations by phone and is said to be hard to book, so I'd reserve a table as soon as your fishing date is fixed.
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
A long day on a boat that goes wherever the season points it — squid under lights, sea bream in the bay, big fish off Ashizuri — and eight photographs with eight different fish to show for it. Then dinner four minutes away, at a tuna izakaya run by a man from one of the islands you've just fished.
Sukumo takes some getting to. If you'd like to make the trip, get in touch and I'll sort out the boat, the timing and the table.
I had come all that way mostly for the squid, and ended up talking about the tuna for the rest of the trip.
— Rahim (Bangladesh)
👉 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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