Introduction
Nine catch photographs came in from this boat. Three are yellowtail of different sizes, one is a red sea bream taken on a tai-rubber lure, and four are groupers — two held up by women, two by children. The last one shows a man lifting a big silver fish over his head with both arms.
GRACIAS fishes out of Tomioka East Port in Reihoku Town, Amakusa, in Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu. The boat has been running since 2020, and the captain operates it on his own.
It holds a 5.0-star rating across 32 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 through me — The boat takes bookings by phone, LINE and an online calendar, all in Japanese. I'll handle it.
- Get to Tomioka — By high-speed boat from Mogi Port in Nagasaki (45 minutes), or by car from Kumamoto.
- Meet at Tomioka East Port — The boarding point in Reihoku Town.
- Fish close to shore — The captain combines tai-rubber, jigging, tip-run squid fishing and bait-drop fishing to suit the season.
- Take the catch home well handled — Reviewers mention bleeding, nerve spiking and chilling done properly on board.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The boat fishes from Tomioka Port down along the west coast of Amakusa. In one of his posts the captain puts it this way: you don't have to go far to catch fish, and how you put the day together changes the result.
- Tai-rubber and SLJ — For red sea bream and groupers.
- Jigging and topwater — For young yellowtail and yellowtail.
- Tip-run squid fishing — For cuttlefish.
- Bait-drop fishing — Seasonal; on good days it brings flounder and groupers.
The species named in the captain's posts include red sea bream, yellowtail, several kinds of grouper, flounder, threadfin bream, gurnard and cuttlefish. On one nine-hour trip that mixed jigging, tai-rubber and tip-run, almost everyone aboard caught something.
Two of the photos are of children: one in a blue jacket holding a grouper, the other in a yellow life jacket holding a red grouper. The captain wrote about a beginners-only family charter on the last day of the spring holidays, run mostly on rental tackle and instruction, that ended with a big red sea bream and three kinds of grouper.
🗣️ What Reviewers Say About This Charter
On a first try at bait-drop fishing, one reviewer was taught everything from hooking the bait fish to setting the hook. The captain kept announcing where the bait schools were and fixed line tangles right away.
— a Google reviewer
Another notes that bleeding, nerve spiking and chilling the catch were done perfectly, so the fish tasted great at home.
— a Google reviewer
A third says rental rods and reels are available, so even complete beginners can join, and that the price is reasonable.
— a Google reviewer
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://amakusa-gracias.com/
- Restaurant: https://amakusanada.com/
- Restaurant on Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/kumamoto/A4305/A430501/43007433/
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 GRACIAS 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.
Trips run six or nine hours, and private charters are available. Rental rod-and-reel sets are available on board. The boat says prices can change with fuel costs and sea conditions. Payment methods aren't published, and that 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 🕘
Departure and return times for the autumn season aren't published and are settled when your booking is confirmed. This year the boat is not running its night squid trips and is putting everything into daytime fishing.
A few things to know before you book. The boat takes up to ten passengers and has a private toilet. Life jackets are worn on deck at all times outside the cabin, and children under 12 keep theirs on for the whole trip.
For private charters, the price is fixed at the number of people confirmed when you book; it doesn't go down if someone drops out, and adding people on the day may not be possible. Tell me early if your group size might change.
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 Tomioka East Port
There is no railway on Amakusa. Here are two ways in. From the Nagasaki side, Reihoku Kanko Kisen runs a high-speed boat between Mogi Port and Tomioka Port that takes 45 minutes, four round trips a day. Its Tomioka terminal is just 0.5 km from the boarding point, and Mogi is about twenty minutes by car from central Nagasaki.
From the Kumamoto side you drive: Kumamoto Station is 109.6 km away, about two hours and twenty minutes, and Kumamoto Airport 128.3 km, about two and a half hours. Amakusa Airport is closer, at 23.2 km and about thirty-one minutes. I don't know yet whether the first morning boat from Mogi fits the fishing departure, so if you're coming from far away, staying the night before in Reihoku is the easiest plan.
Tomioka Castle Ruins are 1.4 km from the port, about three minutes by car, rated 4.1 across 957 Google reviews. To warm up after fishing, the hot-spring bath Rinsen no Yu is 4.2 km away, about seven minutes (3.9, 134 reviews).
Amakusa is also known for dolphin watching. The reception point in Futae, Itsuwa is 12.3 km from the port, about sixteen minutes (4.2, 333 reviews). I haven't checked fares, times, admission or opening hours, so look those up before you go.
Dinner After the Charter – Amakusa Nada 🍶
The dining partner for this boat is Amakusa Nada (天草洋), in the same town of Tomioka — 2.5 km from the port, about four minutes by car. It holds a 4.2-star rating across 110 Google reviews.
The restaurant serves seasonal seafood caught around Amakusa, from a kitchen that has been handed down over more than fifty years. Reviewers mention thick, fresh sashimi, a seafood rice bowl, a simmered sea bream head set meal, sea urchin with a sashimi platter, and rock oysters; one says the set meals came in under 2,000 yen.
The official site lists it as open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00 (last orders 13:30 and 20:00). Thursday is lunch only, and evenings sometimes close without notice, so I confirm the day when booking.
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, yellowtail and groupers close to shore, a captain who writes honestly about the slow days too, and a well-handled catch at the end of it.
Then seafood four minutes up the road. If you'd like to fish Amakusa, 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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