Introduction
Nine catch photographs came in from this boat, and four of them were red sea bream. The other five: a grouper with brown and yellow stripes, a grouper with brown spots, a red fish with very large eyes, a huge dark fish resting on an angler's knees, and a fish with black vertical stripes. Behind every one of them, blue sea and blue sky.
FREEDOM fishes out of Tara-machi, in the northwest of Nagasaki city on the island of Kyushu. Its website calls the area an offshore paradise and promises a great day's fishing for beginners and veterans alike.
The boat holds a 5.0-star rating across 27 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 🎣
- Book by phone or LINE — The boat takes bookings by phone or LINE. I'll handle it in Japanese.
- Sort out your life jacket — Passengers are asked to bring an approved life jacket with the sakura mark. We'll work out how before the day.
- Meet at the port in Tara-machi — Northwest of central Nagasaki, near Nagasaki Fishing Port.
- Fish the waters off Nagasaki — Tai-rubber, SLJ and jigging close in, or slow jigging in 200–350 m of water further out.
- Let the captain handle the catch — Reviewers mention him unhooking, bleeding and gutting the fish for them.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The boat describes tai-rubber simply: drop the lure to the bottom and wind it back up. It can go very deep if you get serious, but the basic motion is easy enough for a beginner to hook a big red sea bream.
- Tai-rubber and SLJ for red sea bream — 100 g heads as standard, lighter or heavier with the current, on PE line #0.8 to #1. A dedicated rod and reel aren't essential.
- Slow jigging at 200–350 m — Rosy seabass, Japanese bluefish and devil stinger, with jigs of 250–400 g; the boat says amberjack and longtooth grouper are possible too.
- Deep vertical jigging — 100–200 m, for groupers and longfinned bullseye.
- Jigging and casting — Close-in grounds out to the Goto Islands.
- Drop fishing — Roughly October to December.
In the photos, the four red sea bream are held up by a woman in a cap making a peace sign, a man in a cap doing the same, a man in a green jacket, and a smiling woman in pink. The red fish with the big eyes is very likely from the deep grounds, though I won't guess its exact species from a photo.
🗣️ What Reviewers Say About This Charter
One reviewer describes a captain who teaches beginners carefully.
— a Google reviewer
Another says he moves the boat often, thinking from the angler's point of view, and gets you catching.
— a Google reviewer
A third found the captain so kind that they could concentrate on nothing but fishing.
— a Google reviewer
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://freedom.nagasaki.jp/
- Restaurant: https://r.goope.jp/sr-42-422014s0055
- Restaurant on Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/nagasaki/A4201/A420101/42004635/
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 FREEDOM 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.
Fares vary with the grounds and the style of fishing, and the farther trips toward the Goto Islands cost more. The boat accepts PayPay on board. Whether rods and reels can be rented hasn't been confirmed; I check that 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 🕘
Departure and return times aren't published and are settled when your booking is confirmed.
Three things to know before you book. First, shared trips are based on two anglers or more; a solo angler who asks early can be matched with others on the boat. The boat takes up to eight.
Second, the life jacket. Japanese rules require small-boat passengers to wear a government-approved jacket with the sakura (cherry blossom) mark. The jackets kept on board are ordinary orange and yellow ones, so the boat asks passengers to bring an approved one. This is the hardest part for visitors from abroad, and I'll work it out with you when we book.
Third, spiked shoes are not allowed on deck. The boat has a private toilet, an electric kettle and a microwave.
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 the Port in Tara-machi
The boat leaves from 1551 Tara-machi, Nagasaki, near Nagasaki Fishing Port. Nagasaki Station is 16.4 km away, about nineteen minutes by car. From Nagasaki Airport it is 46.9 km, about fifty-three minutes, and from Huis Ten Bosch 41.6 km, about thirty-nine minutes.
Head west from the port and you reach the Sotome area. the roadside rest stop Yuhigaoka Sotome is 10.5 km away, about sixteen minutes, rated 4.2 across 1,316 Google reviews, and the Endo Shusaku Literary Museum is 10.7 km (4.3, 476 reviews). Back toward the city, the summit observation deck on Mt. Inasa is 16.9 km (4.5, 12,703 reviews) and Glover Garden 18.3 km (4.2, 12,840 reviews).
With a free daytime, there's Gunkanjima (Hashima), an island packed edge to edge with concrete buildings, rated 4.3 across 1,252 Google reviews. Landing cruises leave from Motofuna-machi on Nagasaki Port; the port terminal building is 17.2 km from the boat, about nineteen minutes by car. I haven't checked cruise fares, times, admission or opening hours, so look those up before you go.
Dinner After the Charter – Kappo Kimura 🍶
The dining partner for this boat is Kappo Kimura (割烹きむら), in Unekari-machi — 1.5 km from the port, about three minutes by car. It holds a 4.2-star rating across 28 Google reviews.
The restaurant lists set meals and à la carte dishes — sashimi, fried dishes, delicacies and grilled food — with a house set meal and courses. Photos of its food show paper-thin puffer fish sashimi, a sashimi platter with a whole translucent squid, and a salt-grilled river fish. Reviewers mention horse mackerel, flounder and tiger puffer, and one booked a spiny lobster sashimi set ahead, noting that lobster isn't always in stock, so call first.
It opens at 17:00 and is closed on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); closing times differ between sources, so I confirm them when booking. Weekend lunch is by reservation only.
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
Red sea bream on a simple drop-and-wind, deep-water fish from 200 metres down, and a captain who takes care of the fish once they're aboard.
Then sashimi and a set meal three minutes up the road. If you'd like to fish Nagasaki, get in touch and I'll make the call for you.
👉 中文咨询请点击此处 ※使用翻译软件进行处理
Review excerpts on this page are paraphrased from public reviews (mainly Google reviews) of the boat and restaurant. Prices, schedules and details are confirmed at the time of booking.
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