[Kyoto] Winter in Amanohashidate: the Crab Marché, and 9 Hot Spring Villas Serving Live Crab as a Full Course

In the secluded hot spring retreat of northern Kyoto—Amanohashidate—we’re launching the “Crab Marché” plan this November, where guests can enjoy a full course of premium live crab.

When it comes to winter delicacies in Japan, crab is the ultimate luxury. But are you settling for frozen crab?

At Marinetopia Resort’s “Crab Marché”, we offer an exceptional selection of top-brand live crabs from the northern Kyoto region, including Tsuiyama, Kasumi, and Shibayama.In this article, we’ll explain the difference between frozen and live crab and introduce seven accommodations where you can savor a full-course crab feast.

What’s the difference between frozen crab and live crab?

Have you ever felt disappointed when eating crab shabu-shabu, thinking, “The meat is thinner than I expected… there’s not much to eat”?

In fact, that might be because the crab was frozen.

Have you ever bought fresh fish from the supermarket and tried to simmer it at home, only to have the flesh fall apart or turn out dry and crumbly?

The same thing can happen with crab. Once it’s been frozen, the fibers in the meat break down, causing it to lose its springy texture and resulting in a dry, mealy mouthfeel.

Freezing also causes the meat to stick to the shell, making it harder to remove and leaving you with less meat to actually eat—a disappointing outcome.

Take a look at the comparison below:

On the left is frozen crab, and on the right is live crab.

With live crab, the meat comes out cleanly and smoothly from the shell, and because the texture is still intact, you can enjoy its naturally firm and plump bite.

Now compare pieces that have been briefly dipped in hot pot (shabu-shabu):

Again, the left side is frozen crab, and the right side is live crab.

The difference in the size of the meat is obvious at a glance!

Fresh live crab is far superior to frozen crab in both meat size and texture—it’s noticeably larger, firmer, and far more satisfying to eat.

About Marinetopia Resort’s “Crab Marché”

4 Key Points of the Crab Marché
• Affordable yet high quality
• Freshly caught crab
• Served as a full course at your accommodation
• Well priced, and a good souvenir too

Marinetopia Resort runs the “Crab Marché” from around early November to late March each year, serving tagged branded live crab landed at Tsuiyama, Shibayama, Kasumi, Hamasaka and other ports near the Tango Peninsula.

At the Crab Marché, you’ll find large tanks brimming with lively, freshly caught crabs. Because the crabs are purchased directly from fishing ports, bypassing wholesalers and retailers, they are available at prices lower than those found at markets.

The “Crab Marché Plan” is a luxurious accommodation package that allows guests to select their own crab and enjoy it as a full-course meal. This plan is extremely popular, with many guests returning year after year.

Crab dishes served in the Crab Marché Plan

The Crab Marché Plan is a special accommodation package available at selected properties, where you can enjoy an abundance of premium branded crabs such as Tsuiyama, Kasumi, and Shibayama.

Crab Sashimi　

One of the delicacies you can enjoy only with live crab is crab sashimi. We highly recommend tasting the thick, succulent crab meat just as it is.

You’ll be amazed by the natural sweetness that spreads in your mouth with the first bite. The springy texture and the pure, rich flavor of the crab are truly exceptional—something you won’t experience anywhere else.

Crab Shabu-shabu (Crab Hot Pot)

Live crab is best enjoyed shabu-shabu style!

The moment you briefly dip it into hot water, the meat bursts open in a fluffy bloom. Savor the pure joy of biting into a mouthful of sweet, succulent crab meat.

Grilled Crab

A great way to bring out the crab’s natural flavor is by grilling it.
Experience how the texture and sweetness of the meat transform as it cooks — you’ll find yourself captivated by the irresistible aroma and taste of perfectly grilled crab.

Grilled Crab Butter in the Shell

After enjoying the grilled crab, be sure to try “Grilled Crab Miso in the Shell.”

The crab meat is delicately picked and placed back into the shell, then mixed with rich crab miso. The combination of the sweet, tender crab meat and the briny aroma of the miso creates an exquisite flavor that’s truly unforgettable.

For those who love sake, we also recommend pouring a bit of Japanese sake into the leftover shell and drinking it — a classic way to savor every last drop of crab miso.

Kani Nabe (Crab Hot Pot),Crab Rice Porridge / Crab Zosui

A steaming hot crab hot pot is the perfect dish for the cold season.
Enjoy the plump, juicy crab meat together with vegetables and tofu infused with the rich umami of crab. With every bite, the savory flavor spreads through your mouth, filling you with warmth and happiness.

And don’t forget to finish off with crab zosui (rice porridge) — the flavorful broth makes the perfect comforting finale.

Nine Places to Stay That Offer the Crab Marché Plan

The Crab Marché plan is available at nine properties in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture.

All of them are rented whole, with the hot spring, sauna and private pool on the same grounds. There is no waiting and no time limit, so you can bathe as often as you like before and after the meal.

Choose according to the purpose of your trip and the people traveling with you.

Plan contents, dates and prices are subject to change.
Please check each property’s page for the latest information and availability.

Zenith Premium Villa: Up to 10 Guests on 3,300 m² of Grounds

A whole-villa rental on 3,300 m² of private grounds, set on high ground with a view of the Sea of Japan and away from the busier sightseeing areas. A living room of about 90 m² and three bedrooms sleep up to 10 people.

Meals are a glamping barbecue using ingredients from Tango, eaten on the terrace facing the sea.

The grounds hold a tennis court and a futsal court, plus a private pool that is lit at night. With that much space, a large group is never all in one place.

For bathing there is a guest-room sauna with a HUUM electric heater and the silver hot spring. It is about 20 minutes from the Yosa-Amanohashidate interchange, and free pick-up from Amanohashidate Station can be booked in advance.

Zenith Prestige Villa: A Gold Hot Spring and a Self-Löyly Sauna to Yourself

A second whole-house rental on the same grounds as the Premium. The 140 m² house has two bedrooms and sleeps up to 8 people.

The tennis court, futsal court and pool are shared on the same grounds, so a smaller group still has the run of the place. Meals are the same glamping barbecue.

For bathing there is an electric sauna that allows self-löyly, and the gold hot spring, which contains iron and turns reddish brown on contact with the air.

Rurinohama: A Guest-Room Hot Spring and Private Pool in All 18 Villas

Rurinohama Natural Hot Spring & Private SPA is a whole-villa resort where all 18 villas have a guest-room hot spring drawn from the property’s own source and a private pool. Ocean-view rooms, rooms with an open-air bath and rooms with both hot springs give each villa its own character.

There are two kinds of water: the iron-rich gold hot spring and the silicic-acid silver hot spring. Rurinohama GRANDE in particular has the rare “red bath” (gold hot spring) and the only guest-room sauna at Rurinohama, SAUNA NIAGARA / GRANDE EDITION, on 692 m² of grounds for up to eight guests, with a campfire in the garden.

Check-in and crab collection happen at the Activity Center on the grounds. The group also runs the sushi restaurants Kurosaki and Zabou, the Italian restaurant Hoshiumi and the Japanese restaurant Soranokaori, along with strawberry picking at its own farm (around January to late April) and Marinetopia Marina for kayaking and fishing.

Hiokihama Villa: A Whole-Villa Rental Facing the Sea of Japan, with Crab by the Portion

A whole-villa rental looking straight out over the calm waters of Miyazu Bay. The 483 m² grounds hold a house of more than 150 m² with two bedrooms and a living room, sleeping up to 8 people. The sea changes through the day, from sunset to moonlight to sunrise.

Meals can be a glamping barbecue on the terrace (Japanese kuroge wagyu and live abalone), Umi-no-Kyo-kaiseki served in the room, a meal at one of the group’s restaurants within walking distance (sushi, Soranokaori, Kurosaki), or a room-only stay where you bring your own food.

A partner marina offers SUP, kayaking and wakeboarding, as well as charters on a large cruiser. The private pool works for swimming in summer and as a cool-down space in winter.

For bathing there is the Estonian-made sauna SAUNA SPACIOUS HEAT LIGHT B and the gold hot spring in the open-air bath. As well as one or two crabs per person, a plan adds 3 to 20 live crabs per villa.

Marinetopia The Suite: Family Time Around an Irori Hearth

Thirteen suite villas spread across 20,000 m² of hillside. The villas sit well apart, so guests rarely cross paths with one another.

The dining space has an irori sunken hearth, so everyone can gather around the fire and eat crab together. It is the only property here with one.

For bathing there is SAUNA RUHE, a shared barrel sauna for guests only, booked in private 70-minute slots. The Deluxe Suite rooms also have a wood-fired sauna, Aurora, limited to one group a day and free to use as often as you like during your stay. Guest rooms have the silver hot spring; the shared sauna and hot spring building has the gold hot spring.

As well as one or two crabs per person, you can add 3 to 20 live crabs per villa.

Hanashobu: Several Baths in One Villa, and Crab by the Portion

A whole-villa property of four units taking only four groups a day, a five-minute walk from the sea. The rooms carry Japanese names: Hanahime, Shiraho, Asaka and Omokage.

Crab sashimi, grilled crab, crab hot pot and the final course are all served in the room, so you can eat at your own pace without other diners around.

There are three open-air baths — the gold hot spring, a rock salt bath and a mugwort medicinal bath — plus an indoor bath, so you can move between them without leaving the villa. The KUUMA SQUARE BARREL sauna is in three of the four units: Hanahime, Asaka and Omokage.

As well as one or two crabs per person, you can add 3 to 20 live crabs per villa.

Yamaboshi Villa: Quiet Stays for Two to Four, with an Outdoor Sauna in the Garden

An 89.43 m² villa rented whole for up to 4 guests, built around a bright, open 71 m² living room. It suits two to four people who want a quiet stay.

Meals can be a glamping barbecue, Umi-no-Kyo-kaiseki served in the room, a meal at one of the group’s sushi restaurants, or a room-only stay. There is a private pool as well.

The sauna is an outdoor cabin in the garden, KUUMA STYRO (HUUM electric, 80–90℃), with 150 kg of sauna stones for self-löyly, so you feel the outside air while you warm up. Finish in the silver hot spring in the room.

Hanamomiji Villa: A Glass-Walled Cube Sauna

The same 89.43 m² whole-villa layout as Yamaboshi, sleeping up to 5 guests. It stands right on the waterfront, with the calm of Miyazu Bay directly in front.

The interior is modern with a Japanese-style room, and there is a large private pool. Meals are the same choices: glamping barbecue, Umi-no-Kyo-kaiseki, the group’s sushi restaurants, or room only.

The sauna is RIISI 200C, a cube with glass on every side, heated by a HUUM HIVE MINI 11 (electric, 80–90℃) modeled on a honeycomb. You can watch the bay through the glass as you sweat, then finish in the silver hot spring.

MEZZO ALL SUITE VILLAS: A 10-Minute Walk to Amanohashidate, with an Enzyme Bath

A 10- to 15-minute walk from Amanohashidate, one of the Three Scenic Views of Japan, and about 9 minutes from the Miyazu-Amanohashidate interchange. The 1,604 m² grounds are shared by only four groups, and every villa faces the sea.

Villas come in two-bed and four-bed layouts for two to five guests. Each has a large private pool, its own garden and a fire pit.

Meals feature seafood from Tango and Kyoto wagyu beef: live crab in winter, abalone and tilefish in summer. A room-only stay with your own barbecue is also possible.

Here the bathing centers not on a sauna but on an enzyme bath, which warms you from within using the fermentation heat of rice bran. Combined with the open-air silver hot spring, a heated jacuzzi and a private pool with two depths, the hot-and-cold circuit is complete within the villa.

Summary

This time, we introduced the key features of the Marinetopia Resort Crab Marché and the variety of crab dishes you can enjoy with the Crab Marché Plan.

The Crab Marché Plan is a limited-time offer, available from early November 2025 to mid-March 2026.

Since reservations for peak periods such as the year-end and New Year holidays fill up quickly, early booking is highly recommended.Whether you’re traveling as a couple, with family, or with friends, this plan is the perfect way to enjoy a memorable trip with your loved ones.

Nine Places to Stay

Marinetopia The Suite

MEZZO ALL SUITE VILLAS

Rurihama

Hanashōbu