Local Food and Handicraft:
Fruit Auction Tour and Bamboo Fruit Basket Making in Kochi Wholesale Market

On this tour you can experience Kochi’s food culture and traditional craftsmanship at the Kochi City Central Wholesale Market. We will gather early in the morning to visit the fresh fish section, and then continue on to the produce area. With the guidance of a local vendor you’ll observe the lively fruit auction.

After breakfast at a restaurant within the market, you’ll try your hand at making a bamboo basket using Torafudake, a type of bamboo native to Kochi. Your instructor is a bamboo artist who is also involved in bamboo forest preservation.

To wrap up the experience, you’ll fill your handmade basket with seasonal fruits, creating your own unique fruit basket. The fruits provided can also be eaten on the spot. 

The Kochi City central market is a compact market with just over 20 shops in the fresh fish and produce sections. It boasts the second-longest history of any wholesale market in Japan. Because of this, you can experience a warm and nostalgic atmosphere no longer found in big city markets. 

Notes:

・At the fresh fish section, you may witness large fish such as tuna and bonito (30–50 cm or larger) being filleted. Please be aware that you might see blood or other aspects of raw fish processing.

・Breakfast will be at a restaurant within the market. Please note that payment for breakfast is not included and should be made individually.

・Since bamboo is a natural material, there may be minor mud stains or splinters. Please wear clothing that you don’t mind getting slightly dirty or snagged during the basket-making workshop.