A Short Visit to Murakami: The City of Giant Salmon (and other things)
In 'Central' Japan.
I went to Murakami City in the north of Niigata Prefecture yesterday.
On the way there I saw some things.
Like a giant…
Last time I was there it had started to grow something…
These things (the monuments, not an actual penis) are a prayer for fertility, in case you hadn’t realised.
Very Important.
Especially now. I wonder why there aren’t many more showing up…
Oh wait…
Anyway, Murakami City. I only just learned that this city, about an hour’s drive south of us here in Sakata, is part of the Chūbu region of Japan.
Which, in case you don’t speak Japanese, means
Central Japan.
Murakami City. Just south of us here in Yamagata. Although Niigata does get an honorary mention as one of the prefectures of Tohoku (at least sometimes), so I guess Murakami can have a pass.
Murakami is famous for salmon.
Like, really famous.
Their culture based on salmon-processing and salmon-based culinary culture dates back to at least the Heian Period. That’s like **counts on fingers**
1,000 years!
Which is like, at least 991 years before Rakaia’s Giant Salmon.
But don’t worry, you better believe Murakami has their own giant salmon too:
Probably not 12m, but still. (While you’re at it, check out this: List of Big Things in New Zealand).
Big enough.
All around Murakami City they had these salmon drying out. They have it in Sakata too, just nowhere near the same amount.
This was what the main stretch of Murakami looked like. It had some very cool old-school Japanese buildings.
Including this toilet:
It wouldn’t be rural Japan without this abandoned building right next to a popular tourist destination:
And they even had free pottery!
*For reasons out of my control, I wasn’t able to try any of the salmon. I will be sure to next time.
On that note:
The Land of Salmon and Sake: How Sakata (Sake Rice Field) got its name
Here I am, sitting on the second floor of a cafe staring out over Sakata harbour.
And I know what you’re thinking.
Sakata? Aren’t they that famous brand of rice crackers?
Yes, they are!
Daily Yamabushi for The Week
Daily Yamabushi posts for the week of November 14 to 20, 2025.
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