It is an old market in the heart of the busy Kokura district. When you enter this market, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled back in time. The arcade street, built more than fifty years ago, has retained its nostalgic charm. Some might even describe it as a relic from the Showa era. With over 120 shops, it sells everyday foods like fish, meat, and vegetables. The specialty food here is nuka-daki, and the market is often referred to as “the kitchen of Kitakyushu.”

Nuka-daki
Nuka-daki Fish: This traditional dish is sold at Tanga Street, the most famous place for nuka-daki in Kitakyushu City. It involves boiling (taki) sardines or mackerels with soy sauce and other condiments, then seasoning and fermenting them in rice bran (nuka).

Fried Udon Noodles
Daruma Shokudo in Kokura is believed to be the original shop for yaki-udon. Today, many shops in Kokura serve yaki-udon, and the city proudly calls itself the “town of yaki-udon.” It’s a simple dish to prepare, and compared to yaki-soba, yaki-udon is seasoned with more soy sauce.
