Taiza crab is a premium variety of male snow crab landed at Taiza Fishing Port in the Taiza district of Tango Town, Kyotango City, at the tip of the Tango Peninsula in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Snow crabs caught and landed here are specially known as Taiza-gani and are regarded as among Japan’s finest crabs.
Each male snow crab landed at Taiza Fishing Port is fitted by hand with a green plastic tag while still aboard the fishing vessel. This tag distinguishes genuine Taiza crab from other catches.
The Taiza crab fishing season runs from November through March, with a fleet of approximately five small boats. The boats return to port and land their catch on the same day they go fishing, helping preserve the crabs’ freshness.
The combination of this day-trip fishing method and the small volume of crab landed makes Taiza crab exceptionally rare. Its limited availability and outstanding freshness have earned it the nickname “the phantom crab.”
November to March