A lively seafood extravaganza at Iki-iki-Tei

While there are many easy meal options like rice bowls and fried goods straight from the kitchen, Iki-iki-Tei’s main appeal is its do-it-yourself seafood barbecue – with a few meat options like beef skewers and sausages, for good measure. “Iki-iki,” a name meaning “lively-lively,” is a bustling restaurant full of hungry, happy people. You’ll be led to a table with a flaming grill, and then free to browse the fresh seafood selections in saltwater tanks and on ice. Load your to-be grilled treats onto a tray and buy as you go; cafeteria style.

Barbecue is a great way to broaden your seafood horizons. If you’re hesitant about something a little exotic, it may be easier to take that first bite if it’s nice and crispy rather than chewy, as something steamed or boiled might be – not to mention eating it raw! We recommend venturing into the “shell” territory of the local cuisine: one many western travelers are not often exposed to.

Kisarazu is famous for clams, but you can also get fresh scallops and oysters to toss on your grill as well. You can, of course, be even more adventurous in your “shell-elections” with pen shells, Japanese geoduck (mirugai giant clams), and other mollusks. All of them can be grilled in trays with butter for extra flavor as well. Naturally, more familiar options like shrimp, lobster, and whole fish are hard to pass up, but being adventurous should be part of why you come to Iki-iki-Tei!

Rice is nice while you munch on mollusks, and Iki-iki-Tei has the perfect dish to meet this need: steamed clam rice. Just off the coast of Kisarazu, you’ll see expansive clam farms, and workers wading through the shallow waters to collect buckets of them. The clams are steamed right into the rice along with flavoring, giving the rice a beautiful color and texture. As with most meat and fish dishes in Japan, having rice to balance out the salty flavors of the meat makes for a balanced meal experience, so don’t miss your chance for some Kisarazu clam rice while you’re here. It’s really popular and sells fast!

And you’ll also find an attached souvenir and seafood shop – a must-visit spot for Kisarazu. Explore a huge assortment of Chiba Prefecture’s sweets and snacks, and of course every variety of seafood you could want, whether canned, dried, brined, or shrink-wrapped. You can of course buy fresh seafood as well, but it might be a little tricky to deal with if you’re traveling. If you’ve had nothing but sushi or course meals at inns, Iki-iki-Tei is sure to be a trip on the wild side of Japanese seafood cuisine!