We Tried Fresh Same-Day Japan Sea Crab at Uokei in Kurakuen-guchi No Need to Go All the Way to Kasumi [Nishitsu Gourmet]

We visited “うお慶,” located just a short walk from Kurakuenguchi Station, tucked slightly off Kurakuenguchi-dori Street.

Run by Mr. Akiyama, who is from Kinosaki, this restaurant’s biggest draw is, without a doubt, fresh seafood delivered directly from the source every day!(Yes, every day.)

Apparently, a 73-year-old grandmother brings it all the way from Kasumi.

This time, we had the Nihonkai Set Meal \3,500 (tax not included), which lets you enjoy “Kasumi crab” caught that very day, along with sashimi.

“うお慶” Nihonkai Set Meal

The Nihonkai Set Meal comes with Kasumi crab (with crab vinegar), three kinds of sashimi, turban shell, and miso soup.

First up is “Kasumi crab,” caught that very morning! (We’ll reveal it little by little 😆)

The crab has plenty of natural sweetness just as it is!

Of course it’s delicious on its own, but their homemade “crab vinegar” is also so good.

According to the owner, Mr. Akiyama from Kinosaki, it’s “the taste of home” that he has been eating since he was a child.

This is the sashimi that comes with the set meal.

Normally it includes three kinds, but since we ordered portions for two, they made it six kinds for us.

It’s a small thing, but it’s really nice when a restaurant can flexibly adjust things depending on the number of people.

This is the turban shell.

Do you eat the inner part of turban shell? You know, that blackish-greenish part?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve actually liked that part more than the meat 😃

So if that black part doesn’t come out, I’m really disappointed!!

This time it came out perfectly! It slipped right out, and I was able to enjoy every last bit.

The meal also comes with rice and miso soup.

The miso soup had daikon radish and yellowtail in it.

The rice portion is on the generous side, so if you’re a light eater, you might want to ask for “less rice” at the beginning.

Mama and I finished everything with no problem.

And that was our luxurious 3,500 yen lunch!

When you think about the time and transportation costs it would take to go all the way to Kinosaki to eat crab…

And when you realize you can eat “crab delivered directly from the source and landed that very day” right here in Nishinomiya…

I think it’s an incredible value!!

In fact, according to Mr. Akiyama, the owner, many people come to “うお慶” from Osaka, Nara, Himeji, and Kakogawa, saying “If you go to Kurakuen, you can eat proper crab.”

“うお慶” Menu

At night, the menu changes daily depending on the fish landed that day.
Please contact the restaurant directly.
With advance reservations, kani-suki crab hot pot and boiled crab are also available.

*Crabs are crustaceans and molt as they grow. Crabs that have just molted have firm meat, but are known for having no crab miso.
Because of that, they are apparently prepared for kani-suki hot pot.

Lunch menu↓↓

Kani-suki set menu↓↓

Click here to see the other drink menus

You can also enjoy “Kasumitsuru,” a sake made in Kasumi.

Inside “うお慶”

Counter seats are also available.

There were also lots of autographed boards from famous people on display.

There Was a Reason Fresh Kasumi Crab Became Available in Kansai!

Long ago, many customers who traveled from the Osaka area to Kasumi or Kinosaki to eat crab loved it so much that they wanted to bring some home as souvenirs.

Back then, there were no crab cases or delivery services like we have today, so people apparently put the crabs in bags, hung them outside the train, and brought them back to Osaka that way.

But at station stops, the crabs would sometimes be stolen, and when the train went through tunnels, the crabs would get blackened with soot, making it difficult to bring them home in good condition.

So Hotel Kinparo reportedly began a service where, when guests arrived, they would confirm the number of souvenir crabs needed, then on the morning of the guests’ departure, transport the crabs by car to Shin-Osaka and hand them over there.

Because of that, even today it seems to be very common for people from Kasumi and Kinosaki to transport crab all the way to Osaka.

That’s what the owner, Mr. Akiyama, told us.

He’ll teach you all kinds of things about crab, too.

And amazingly, Mr. Akiyama is also a “Tourism Ambassador for Kami Town”!

We got to hear so many stories full of crab love!!

“うお慶” Restaurant Information

Here it is on the map↓↓

The address is Fast River 1F, 7-26 Minamikoshikiiwacho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.

(*Prices, menu items, business hours, and other details are as of the time of coverage. Please check directly with the restaurant for the latest information.)