I went to Ise Shima Souvenir Center Osho Toba Main Store! Detailed information on popular souvenirs, gourmet food, and surrounding information!

If you drive for a few minutes from TobaAquarium on National Route 167 towards Shima, you will see this signboard along the road. The boat on the roof is eye-catching!

It's called a "souvenir center," but what kind of store is it?

Arrived in about 1 minute from the sign. As the signboard says, a large ship is enshrined here.

I heard later that a real hydrofoil boat that was in service between Gamagori and Toba was brought here and installed.
It was actually in service until 1981. Even now, more than 30 years after he retired, he continues to entertain tourists.

The store has a wide selection of fresh seafood in aquariums, dried fish, and processed seafood products.

With so much to see, it's hard to know where to start.

Mr. Morita, the general manager, appeared with a bowl of spiny lobster in hand.
``We have a wide selection of fresh seafood, mainly from Ise-Shima.''
Ise lobsters are caught in the winter, and are said to be difficult to obtain in the summer, but Tenda, who has been in the processed fish industry for many years, is doing everything he can to ensure that he has lobster available all year round.

In fact, ``Ise Shima Souvenir Center Osho'' is a directly managed store of a company called Sako Foods, which has been engaged in the seafood manufacturing and wholesale business in Toba for over 40 years since its establishment.
That's why we have so many processed seafood products available.

Live spiny lobsters range in price from 2,000 yen to 20,000 yen depending on the size.
Another popular item is the 3,500 yen Assorted Shellfish Set, which includes abalone, turban shells, and large clams. We also accept shipping for gifts.

We will ask Mr. Morita, who is in charge of the store, to tell us about “Oshou’s recommendations”♪

"Toro-aji and toro-saba, which are horse mackerel and mackerel dried overnight, are by far the most popular," says Morita.

It is said that its appeal is that it is so fatty that it is given the name "Toro." When I tried it, I was satisfied with the name Toro. It's no wonder that people who visit a store, buy something, and then take it home later order it over the phone and have it delivered by courier.

Next, we were introduced to popular products that can only be found at stores directly managed by processed product manufacturers. The famous "Osho Konbu" (700 yen) is made using Ise soy sauce. Homemade kelp tsukudani, limited quantity per day. When you take a bite, you can feel the sweetness and the elegant and gentle taste.

The fresh flavor spreads in your mouth as if it was freshly made.

Ise soy sauce produces such a mellow taste. Sako Foods' original product "Osho Konbu" is a valuable item that can only be obtained at the "Osho" directly managed store in Ise-Shima.

It is also a votive offering to Geku IseJingu.

There are also many popular Osho original products, such as the Ise shrimp cracker "Enoe (1200 yen)" made with Mie ingredients, and "Osho nori (800 yen)" made with seaweed from Ise-Shima.

``Aosa Nori'' (800 yen for value), which is carefully sourced and sourced, is said to be a popular item recently.

When I looked at the price displays in the store, I noticed that they were all sharp numbers. I thought it was displayed excluding tax, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that "consumption tax is included in the wholesaler price." Even though the consumption tax has increased to 5% and 8%, they continue to provide consumption tax services because they want to provide products that are even slightly better value than the market price.
We are planning to increase it to 10% next year, but I hope you will hold on tight and do your best.

As you walk through the store admiring the delicious-looking ingredients, it's inevitable that your appetite will be stimulated. Did you hear that voice in your heart?
``You can grill and eat turban shells, oysters, and giant clams right at the entrance,'' says Morita.

This space is commonly known as "Blue Terrace".

When you come to Toba, you want to taste freshly grilled shellfish before you go home.

Prices include 2 turban shells for 600 yen, 2 large clams for 800 yen, and 1 squid for 700 yen. Ise lobster is also available starting from 2,500 yen. (Prices may change depending on market conditions. Please contact us each time.)

If you want to have a full-fledged meal, head to the adjacent "Seafood Restaurant Ohsho." You can enjoy seafood dishes leisurely at a tatami room.
When you go up the stairs, there are group seats at the top. The second floor seats can accommodate up to 60 people.

Can you tell by looking at the curves of the windows and ceiling? Yes, this place used to be the cabin of the hydrofoil that sits on the roof.

The stairs leading up to the second floor also had a ship-like atmosphere.

The most popular menu item is definitely the ``seafood bowl''. A luxurious rice bowl made with half of the spiny lobster. We also have the ``Tuna Daily Seafood Bowl (1,900 yen)'' made with Ise tuna and 6 types of seasonal fish. (*Separate consumption tax will be charged for "Seafood Restaurant Osho") Taste seafood dishes "on board". It will liven up your travel mood.

I decided to take one last photo of the aquarium space, and when I returned to the sales floor, I saw a family looking around the store.
A family came from Osaka to visit. Apparently, they stopped by for some shopping on the way back from sightseeing at IseJingu and MikimotoPearlIsland.
I hope that seeing raw oysters and lobster for the first time will be a good memory of your trip.

【basic information】
Address: 15-1 Matsuo-cho, TobaCity Mie Prefecture
Phone number 0599-26-3100
Parking lot: 20 large cars, 60 regular cars
Business hours 8:30-17:30
Closed: Open all year round
Toilet inside the facility
Diaper changing work table available Barrier-free restroom available (women's restroom)
EV charging facility No

*The information posted is as of March 2018.