Fishing in Setouchi Without a Charter Boat: Fishing Parks, Harbour Walls and Raft Fishing

Quick answer: You don’t need a charter boat to fish in Setouchi. The easiest option is a managed fishing park with rental gear, such as Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park in Kobe (adult ¥1,200 for 4 hours from March to November; rod set ¥2,000; closed Thursdays). For something in between, try raft fishing: a small boat drops you on a moored raft in a calm bay, and picks you up later — Naruto’s Uchi-no-umi is the best-known area, at roughly ¥3,500–4,000 per adult. You can also fish free from harbour walls, but follow local signs. No licence is needed for rod-and-line sea fishing from shore — but never take shellfish, sea urchins, octopus or lobster by hand.

I often fish at Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park in Kobe and from free harbour walls and breakwaters in Tokushima, and I often go raft fishing on Naruto’s Uchi-no-umi. I’ve also fished at the Minamiawaji Mega Float on Awaji Island, and been raft fishing elsewhere around Awaji and Hyogo. I haven’t fished at Naoshima Fishing Park or Hiroshima’s Kannon East Breakwater, so those are what I’ve researched. I also often go out on charter boats — if you’d like to try that, see How to Join a Fishing Charter in the Seto Inland Sea.

Which option suits you?

1. Managed fishing parks

Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park (Kobe)

Kobe City Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park (神戸市立平磯海づり公園) in Tarumi has a 1,400 m fishing platform over 5–6 m of water, with a railing about 80 cm high, so it’s good with children. It looks across to Awaji Island and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge — handy if you’re travelling between Kansai and Shikoku.

New seasonal fees started on 1 April 2026:

*In 2026: 29 April–6 May and 19–23 September.

• Rental: rod only ¥1,300, or a rod set with bait, hook and sinker ¥2,000 (plus ¥500 deposit). Life jackets are lent free. Bait is sold on site, and staff on the platform give advice — you can turn up empty-handed.
• Hours: vary by month — for example 6:00–18:00 on November weekdays (19:00 at weekends), and 7:00–17:00 from December to February. Last entry is an hour before closing.
• Closed: every Thursday (open if it’s a holiday), 1 January, and a winter maintenance period.
• Access: 3 minutes’ walk from Higashi-Tarumi Station (Sanyo line). Parking ¥700 for 4 hours.
• Over 30 species are caught here, including horse mackerel, black sea bream, rockfish and flounder.

Minamiawaji Mega Float (Awaji Island)

The Minamiawaji Mega Float (海釣り公園メガフロート) is a floating fishing park in Fukura Bay, in the south of Awaji Island. The city is reviewing what to do about its ageing buildings, and current fees and hours couldn’t be confirmed — check with the park or the Minamiawaji city website before you go. See Awaji Island Day Trip from Tokushima for the island.

Naoshima Fishing Park (Kagawa)

A cheap add-on to an art-island trip (Naoshima art museums):

• ¥100 adults, ¥50 children; rod rental ¥500; bait sold.
• 7:00–17:00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays and from 16 December to 14 January.
• Only the west area is open — the east pier and rocky area are closed, with no reopening date.

Kannon East Breakwater (Hiroshima city)

A free, managed public breakwater at Kannon Marina. Open daily March–November, weekends and holidays only December–February; 10:00–18:00 (April–September) or 10:00–16:00 (October–March). No chum or bait-ball fishing; release small fish. No rental mentioned, so bring your own gear. Marina car park ¥200 an hour.

2. Free harbour walls and breakwaters in Tokushima

Tokushima’s coast has plenty of harbours and breakwaters where locals fish for free. There’s no single list, and the rules change from place to place, so:

• Follow the signs. Ports aren’t built as fishing spots, and some breakwaters are closed to the public. If it says no fishing or no entry, don’t.
• Stay out of the way of fishing boats, ropes and nets.
• Take all rubbish and leftover bait home.
• Wear a life jacket, use non-slip shoes, and don’t fish in strong wind or high waves. Concrete blocks and wet edges are slippery.

3. Raft fishing

How it works: a ferry boat (tosen) takes you out to a moored raft (ikada) in a sheltered bay in the morning, then picks you up at a time you agree. The classic target is black sea bream (chinu), with other fish by season. It’s in calm water and costs less than a charter boat.

Naruto’s Uchi-no-umi (ウチノ海), a sheltered inlet in Naruto, is the best-known raft-fishing area in Tokushima.

• Price: about ¥3,500 per adult and ¥1,000 per child in a 2019 Naruto tourism pamphlet; one operator charged ¥4,000 in early 2024. Tackle rental about ¥1,000, BBQ sets also available.
• Times: the first boat goes out around sunrise; last pickup is around 16:00. The boat ride is short.
• Toilets: some rafts have a simple toilet, some don’t — ask when you book.
• Booking: by phone, in Japanese. Ask your hotel to call for you.

Beginner package: a Naruto City-supervised tourism listing offers a “Raft BBQ & fishing” package from April to November — about 4 hours, gear and BBQ food included, ¥18,200–28,600 per person depending on group size (2–6). English support costs ¥39,000 extra, and you need to book at least 7 days ahead.

Hiroshima’s oyster rafts: anglers fish from oyster rafts too, but climbing onto an oyster raft without the owner’s permission can be an offence. Only go with an operator who has that permission.

More in Naruto: Naruto Beyond the Whirlpools.

4. Rules visitors should know

• No licence is needed for rod-and-line or hand-line sea fishing from shore. Most other gear is banned.
• Never take abalone, sea cucumber or glass eels — banned for everyone, with penalties up to 3 years in prison or ¥30 million.
• Shellfish, sea urchins, octopus, spiny lobster and seaweed on the shore belong to local fishing co-ops. Don’t pick them by hand from rocks or beaches. Fines go up to ¥1 million.
• Snagging fish and using lights to attract them are banned in Kagawa and Hiroshima.
• Hiroshima: chum fishing from land is banned in many fishing-right areas and some harbours.
• Kagawa iidako (small octopus): from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, iidako fishing is allowed only 1 September–15 October, until noon.
• Size limits apply — release small fish.
• Rivers usually need a day ticket from the local co-op.

5. Tackle rental and what to bring

Confirmed rental: Hiraiso (¥1,300 / ¥2,000 set), Naoshima (¥500), Naruto raft operators (about ¥1,000) and the Naruto package (included). Elsewhere, bring or buy your own.

• Hat, sunscreen, water and non-slip shoes
• Life jacket (free at Hiraiso)
• A small cooler if you’ll keep fish
• A rubbish bag
• Cash

See also: How to Get to Tokushima · A Fishing Trip on the Shimanami Kaido · Fishing Experiences Where They Cook Your Catch.

FAQ

Do I need a fishing licence?
Not for rod-and-line sea fishing from shore. Don’t take shellfish, octopus, sea urchins or lobster by hand.

Can I fish without bringing any gear?
Yes, at Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park (rod set ¥2,000) or on a Naruto raft (rental about ¥1,000).

How much is raft fishing?
Around ¥3,500–4,000 per adult (2019–2024 figures), plus rental. The beginner BBQ package is ¥18,200–28,600 per person.

Is Hiraiso open every day?
No — it’s closed on Thursdays (unless a holiday) and on 1 January.

Fees, hours and rules checked on the official Kobe City, Hiraiso Sea Fishing Park, Minamiawaji City, Naoshima Tourism Association, Hiroshima, Kagawa and Tokushima Prefecture and Fisheries Agency websites on 1 November 2026; raft prices from a Naruto tourism pamphlet (2019 data) and a fishing guide (2024).

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.