Introduction
Every time I've written up a restaurant for this series, I've had to add the same caveat: whether they'll cook the fish you caught yourself hasn't been confirmed. This time I don't. The boat has written it into its own price list.
Kazahaya Family Fishing sails from Hojo Port in Matsuyama, Ehime, on the island of Shikoku, into the Seto Inland Sea. At the bottom of its services page is a section called "collaboration plans": deals with restaurants in central Matsuyama that the captain eats at himself. You drop your catch off at the restaurant in the afternoon, and sit down to it, cooked, at 19:00.
The boat holds a 5.0-star rating across 84 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 a session and a target — Choose a morning or afternoon session and one kind of fish; the captain then gathers other anglers for a shared trip.
- Meet in front of Hojo Port — The meeting point is 1630 Hojotsuji, Matsuyama, 0.7 km from Iyo-Hojo Station. Times change with the season.
- Board a small outboard boat — A YAMAHA 23-footer running on petrol, so none of the diesel fumes of a working fishing boat. There's a private flush toilet in the cabin.
- Fish the Seto Inland Sea — Red sea bream on tai-rubber, bigfin reef squid on tip-run, and flathead, yellowtail and Spanish mackerel.
- Take your catch to dinner — After the fish are prepared on the boat, you carry them to a partner restaurant in town, and eat them that evening.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The boat's own catch reports from September give an honest picture of the water.
- Red sea bream on tai-rubber — On 22 September a four-angler charter took two sea bream, the biggest 54 cm, in strong wind and high waves, while pufferfish kept stealing the lures.
- Bigfin reef squid on tip-run — On 23 September three anglers landed fifteen squid, everyone catching at least one. The captain calls it a short, difficult season, and one of the best to eat.
- Flathead — Three of the eight photographs sent to me are flathead: flat heads, sand-coloured bodies.
- Yellowtail and Spanish mackerel — Two of the photos show young yellowtail; another shows a Spanish mackerel held up on a fish grip.
- Relay trips — Tai-rubber followed by jigging, or longer runs out to the islands, can be arranged for an extra charge.
In one photograph, behind a man holding a flathead, the number "3197" is painted on the hull — the same as the boat's licence number, Ehime 3197.
🗣️ Traveler Reviews – Why They Chose This Charter
A few people who have fished this boat through me shared their impressions afterward:
The fish I handed over at lunchtime came back to me that evening looking like something else entirely. Eating a fish you remember hooking is a stranger feeling than I expected.
— Liisa (Estonia)
The boat was small enough that there was no engine smell to make me queasy. I spent the whole morning breathing nothing but sea air, and that alone was worth the trip.
— Caetano (Brazil)
Between dropping our fish at the restaurant and dinner, I went to a hot spring and had a nap. When I woke up, all that was left to do was eat. I can't think of a better way to build a day on the road.
— Yun (Taiwan)
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Official website: https://kazahaya-family-fishing.com/
- Collaboration plans: https://kazahaya-family-fishing.com/service/
- Restaurant: http://yoshinogawa.biz/home
- Restaurant on Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/ehime/A3801/A380101/38000733/
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 Kazahaya Family Fishing 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.
Dinner at the partner restaurant is separate: the collaboration meal at Shikoku Saburo Yoshinogawa is a set course priced per person, with drinks extra — I'll confirm the amount when booking. Life-jacket and rod rental, rigs and bait are also charged separately by the boat.
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 boat runs morning, afternoon and sunset sessions, and departure and return times change with the season. The time counts from meeting to dispersal, including preparing the fish after you come back in. The meeting time is settled when your booking is confirmed.
Three things to know before you book. First, numbers. The boat is guaranteed to sail with three or more anglers, either as a charter or on a shared trip. One or two anglers can go out on weekdays for a shorter session.
Second, the life jacket. If you bring your own, it must carry the Japanese government approval mark; if you don't have one, you must rent the boat's. The family charter plan includes life jackets, rods and reels.
Third, the boat is small: two cooler boxes per group at most, no spiked boots, and the boat may come back early if the weather turns. It generally goes out in rain, but not in typhoons, strong wind, high waves or thick fog.
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 Hojo Port
The meeting point is in front of Hojo Port, at 1630 Hojotsuji, Matsuyama. Iyo-Hojo Station on the JR Yosan Line is 0.7 km away. From Matsuyama Station it is 17.4 km, and from Matsuyama Airport 23.0 km.
From the port to the partner restaurant in central Matsuyama is 18.1 km, about sixteen minutes by car — close enough to drop your catch off in the afternoon without rushing.
Central Matsuyama has Matsuyama Castle (16.5 km from the port) and Dogo Onsen Main Building (17.9 km), rated 4.5 and 4.2 on Google. Further afield, the base station of the ropeway up Mount Ishizuchi is 67.5 km away — about fifty-four minutes by car on paper, but on mountain roads, so allow more. I haven't checked opening hours or fees, so look those up before you go.
Dinner After the Charter – Shikoku Saburo Yoshinogawa 🍶
The dining partner for this boat is Shikoku Saburo Yoshinogawa (四国三郎 よしの川), a Seto Inland Sea izakaya at 2-1-11 Ichibancho, Matsuyama, two minutes' walk from the Okaido tram stop. It holds a 4.1-star rating across 195 Google reviews.
It is one of three restaurants in the boat's collaboration plan. Back from the water, you bring your own catch to the restaurant between 14:00 and 15:30; dinner starts at 19:00. Tell the boat how many will be eating when you book the fishing. The restaurant's own site says the same thing — that it welcomes anglers bringing in fish they caught themselves.
The restaurant opens 17:00–22:00 (to 21:00 on public holidays) and is closed on Sundays. If you'd rather have your catch as sushi, the boat also partners with Sushi Kaiseki Takara; for a lively izakaya, Kohkoh Honten. Both follow the same drop-off-then-dinner pattern.
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 small, quiet boat out of Hojo, a captain whose Google reviews are full of first-timers, and something this series has been trying to arrange all along: a restaurant that has already agreed to cook what you catch.
Fish in the morning, drop your catch in town after lunch, spend the afternoon at the castle or the hot spring, and eat your own fish at 19:00. If you'd like that day, get in touch and I'll book the boat and the table together.
My wife still talks about the moment our own fish came out of the kitchen that night. We had been strangers in town that morning. By the evening, it felt as if the day had been planned around us.
— Tomasz (Poland)
👉 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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