PRIVATE CHARTER · FOR INTERNATIONAL GUESTS
Fish the Kanmon Strait, Where Japan’s Fastest Tides Meet the Sea
Before you set off, our staff comes aboard to walk you through the tairaba technique in English — drop, twitch, wind — so you’re ready to fish with confidence. Once you’re underway, an English briefing card and Captain Shigeki’s decades of experience take it from there.
Why Kanmon Strait?
A Strait Ruled by Its Own Tides
Between Honshu and Kyushu, the Kanmon Strait narrows to just 500–650 meters at its tightest point — and the water knows it. Currents here reach up to 10 knots and reverse direction four times a day, turning the strait into one of Japan’s most dynamic fishing grounds.
That current is exactly what draws red sea bream (madai) in close. Reading it — knowing where the fish are holding as the tide turns — is the difference between a good day and a great one. It’s also the one skill you can’t learn from a map.
Meet Captain Shigeki
Fifteen Years of Reading This Water
Captain Shigeki has fished the Kanmon Strait long enough to know its currents by feel, not just by chart. He’s also the designer behind the Pudlee Tairaba JET and Ikarua JET lures — tools built specifically for how fish behave in fast, reversing tides like these.
On board, he calls the drift, adjusts for wind and current in real time, and puts your group on fish that most visitors would need years to find on their own.
Before departure, our staff boards to give guests a hands-on English walkthrough of the tairaba technique. From there, Captain Shigeki takes the helm — his English is limited, but every charter includes an onboard English guide covering technique and safety, so nothing gets lost along the way.
Why Charter?
Your Group. Your Boat. No Language Gap.
Most fishing charters in Japan assume you speak Japanese — from the booking to the safety briefing to the moment a fish hits. We built this charter so that assumption doesn’t apply to you.
- An English walkthrough before you cast off. Our staff boards to teach you the tairaba technique in English, and an onboard English guide has you covered for the rest of the trip.
- A fully private boat. No mixing with other groups, no scheduling around strangers. It’s your charter, your pace.
- A small, hands-on group. 4 guests as standard (5–6 by arrangement) — enough room to fish comfortably, enough attention from the crew to actually learn.
More Than Fishing
A Strait With Centuries of Stories
The Kanmon Strait isn’t just a fishing ground — it’s where some of Japan’s most pivotal history played out, often within sight of where you’ll be casting.
Ganryujima Island sits just off the strait, the site of the legendary 1612 duel between swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and his rival Sasaki Kojiro — one of the most retold confrontations in Japanese history.
Dannoura, at the strait’s edge, marks the site of the decisive 1185 naval battle that ended the Genpei War. Legend holds that mid-battle, a vast pod of dolphins — said to number over a thousand — surfaced and swam straight beneath the Heike fleet. Their own diviner had warned that if the dolphins pressed on rather than turning back, it would foretell defeat. The omen held: the Heike clan fell that day.
The strait is still home to wild dolphins today — guests occasionally spot them surfacing near the boat during a charter, a small stroke of luck on top of the fishing.
What to Expect
Your Day, Start to Finish
| Time | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 7:30 | Meet at Tachiura Port (taxi from your hotel) |
| 8:00 | Board FOLK IN ON and depart |
| 8:00–13:00 | Tairaba fishing across the strait (5 hours) |
| 13:00 | Return to port — your afternoon is free |
| Evening | Your catch, delivered fresh to a local restaurant for dinner (see below) |
No experience necessary. Rods, tackle, and guidance are all included — your crew will get you started and stay with you the whole way through.
Your Catch, Served That Evening
Wondering what to do with the fish you catch? As a goodwill gesture, we’re happy to introduce you to 美食割烹 門 (8-14 Haramachibetsuin, Moji-ku — about 20 minutes by car from Tachinoura Port, 14 minutes from Kokura Station), a local restaurant near the port that can turn your catch into sashimi for dinner the same day. The restaurant offers a seasonal course menu (starting around ¥4,000 per person, subject to change), with your catch added on top as extra sashimi — so even a quiet day on the water can still end with a great meal. This is offered as a complimentary, best-effort service by both the restaurant and our crew, not a guaranteed part of your charter — availability can depend on the day. If you’d like to arrange this, please let us know in advance so we can check availability and helpcoordinate the delivery and reservation on your behalf. If you’d like this service, please get in touch with us as early as possible — the more notice you give us, the easier it is for us to arrange. Same-day and other last-minute requests are much harder for us to accommodate.
Since You’re Already Here
Make an Afternoon of It
Your charter wraps up around 1:00 PM, leaving the rest of the day free to explore. Both sides of the Kanmon Strait are easily reached on foot or by a short ferry ride from the port.
- Mojiko Retro (Mojiko side) — a row of early 20th-century Western-style buildings along the waterfront, now home to cafes, shops, and small museums, a short walk from the port.
- Mekari Shrine (Mojiko side) — a small shrine set right at the strait’s narrowest point, long regarded as a guardian of the passage between Honshu and Kyushu.
- Akama Shrine (Shimonoseki side) — a striking red-and-white shrine dedicated to the young Emperor Antoku, who died in the Battle of Dannoura just offshore.
- Karato Market (Shimonoseki side) — a lively fish market known for fresh sushi and seafood bowls, especially busy on weekend mornings.
A Taste of Kitakyushu
Before you head home, it’s worth trying a few local specialties: fugu (pufferfish), a Shimonoseki delicacy served as delicate sashimi; yaki curry, a Moji original that bakes curry rice with cheese and a soft egg on top; and the fresh seafood and sushi bowls at Karato Market.
FOLK IN ON
A New Boat, Built for This Water
FOLK IN ON is our newest vessel, an Arashio-class boat licensed for up to 13 passengers and purpose-built for tairaba fishing in the strait’s fast currents. On charter days, it’s yours alone — no other groups, no shared space.
Pricing
One Price, Everything Included
¥100,000 per charter (4–6 guests)
Includes: private boat, captain and English-speaking crew, rods and tackle, safety briefing and guidance.
Not included: hotel transfer (taxi recommended), meals.
Payment: cash only, paid on the day of the charter
FAQ
Do I need fishing experience?
No. Your crew will teach you tairaba fishing from scratch — this trip works well for complete beginners and experienced anglers alike.
How do we get to the port?
By taxi. We don’t provide pickup, but we’re happy to help you arrange transport from your hotel.
What if the weather is bad?
Your captain makes the call based on wind and sea conditions, with safety as the priority. If we need to reschedule or cancel, we’ll work with you on the best option.
Does anyone on board speak English?
Our staff comes aboard before departure to walk you through the fishing technique in English. During the trip itself, the captain’s English is limited, but you’ll have an English briefing card covering everything you need, and our team is reachable by phone throughout your visit.
Can we bring more than 6 people?
6 is our standard maximum, but we may be able to accommodate a larger group for an additional fee — just get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.
What happens to the fish we catch?
We deliver it, free of charge, to a partner restaurant near the port, where it’s prepared as sashimi for your dinner that evening. Just let us know during the trip if you’re interested, and we’ll take care of the arrangements.
Contact
Questions Before You Book?
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