Hungry? These Fall Festivals Serve Seasonal Seafood and More
In Japan, there’s a saying known as “Shokuyoku-no-Aki,” which directly translates to “Fall’s Appetite,” thanks to the plethora of fruits, vegetables, and fish available during the season. Sushi, yakiniku (grilled meat), tempura, and more are some of the staples to look forward to during this season, so eat to your heart’s content!
In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into everything fall food in Japan, and introduce festivals where you can find (and eat!) some local delicacies.
Cuisines from all around the Country
Japan has a total of 47 prefectures and eight regions, all of which have their unique food and ingredients. Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, is famous for its Ishikari-nabe or Ishikari hot pot―salmon and saw-edged perch eaten alongside vegetables and a kombu broth.
In Tohoku, you’ll find southern-style soy sauce-flavored senbei (rice cracker) boiled to create a delicious dish known as Senbei-jiru (rice cracker stew). These are perfect meals for the colder temperatures found in these locations.
(1) If it’s prefectural food culture you’re craving, Hokkaido and Kōchi are the places for you
Sapporo Autumn Festival (Hokkaido)
Scheduled every September to October in Sapporo Odori Park, this event centers around Hokkaido and Sapporo’s distinct cuisines. Here, you can find seasonal ingredients, local ramen, Japanese sake, and more.
Odori 5-chome is the place to be for all things ramen, 4-chome is where you’ll find jingisukan (a Japanese grilled mutton or lamb dish), fried chicken, and much more. There’s so much to see and taste, so feel free to explore the different areas.
If you wish to pick up a souvenir to commemorate your trip, make sure to visit 8-chome and grab some local and unique goods from all around Hokkaido!
Event Information
Name: Sapporo Autumn Fest |
Tosa no Hojyosai, Kochi City Venue (Kochi Prefecture)
Kochi Prefecture is an elongated-shaped region that goes from east to west in the south of Shikoku. Blessed with the riches of the ocean and mountains, it is the site of an almost endless array of local specialties. For two months in the fall (usually October and November), Kochi City plays host to the highly anticipated Tosa no Hojyosai (The Harvest of Tosa Festival).
It pays homage to the sea, mountains, rivers, and other natural wonders that surround the prefecture and brings people together to celebrate Tosa’s blessing of fall.
Here you’ll find a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, and meats from many of the prefecture’s surrounding regions. You’ll also enjoy amazing dishes such as grilled shellfish, Tosa sushi, chargrilled salmon, and much more!
Event Information
Name: Tosa no Hojyosai Website: Tosa no Hojyosai (Japanese) |
Plus: What to expect with Hokkaido food in the fall
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(2) Sanma (Pacific saury) is the star of these Tokyo and Fukuoka festivals
One fish that starts to make its way from international waters towards Japan’s seas during the fall is sanma, better known as Pacific saury. By then, the fish is usually in its best shape―deliciously fatty! Sample free chargrilled Pacific saury at the Choshi Sanma Marathon in the Chiba Prefecture, or at any other Pacific saury event found in nearby areas.
Meguro Sanma Festival (Tokyo)
The Meguro Pacific Saury Festival usually takes place at the beginning of September within the shopping district in front of JR Meguro Station, Tokyo. Over 7,000 Pacific sauries from Iwate Prefecture’s Miyako City are chargrilled using high-grade charcoal from Wakayama Prefecture’s Minabe Town. Preparations also include about 10,000 sudachi (Japanese citrus fruit) from Tokushima Prefecture’s Kamiyama Town and 500 daikon radishes from Tochigi Prefecture’s Nasushiobara City. The chargrilled sauries are then handed out for free to visitors. This festival is extremely popular so there’ll definitely be lines! You may even have to wait anywhere from three to five hours to get your serving.
Event Information
Name: Meguro Sanma Festival |
Luigans Fall Sanma Festival (Fukuoka Prefecture)
THE LUIGANS Spa & Resort can be found in the National Government Park Umi-no-Nakamichi, and each fall, it celebrates the Luigans Fall Sanma Festival.
It prepares over 1,000 Pacific sauries and offers around half for free to its guests. There is also Japanese sake and stall food available, allowing visitors to fully experience an authentic Japanese festival experience!
Event information
Name: Luigans Fall Sanma Festival |
Plus: How to enjoy Pacific saury
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(3) Come winter, it’s time for crabs! Visit Hokkaido and Niigata for their crab-related events
While crabs abound within Japan’s waters, snow crabs (or queen crabs) are available during winter, as are hairy crabs, which are known for their tasty miso-like paste. Have your fill of these and other seasonal delights in these Japan festivals.
Nemuro Crab Festival (Hokkaido)
Named after the port in Nemuro where they are caught, Hanasaki crabs are found in a single part of Hokkaido’s eastern coastline where there are very few hauls each year. Thus, they’re also known as Phantom Crabs, and starting around the end of August to early September annually, locals and tourists look forward to the Nemuro Crab Festival.
Each year sees many visitors flocking to try the famed crab at discounted prices. If you visit this event, the Teppo soup and mixed crab tempura rice bowl are a must-try. And don’t miss unique events like the one that pits people against each other to see who can eat crab the fastest!
Event Information
Name: Nemuro Crab Festival Website: Nemuro Crab Festival (Japanese) |
Niidachi Oonabe Festival (Niigata)
This festival takes place during the middle of September in the Umiterasu Nadachi found in Joetsu City, Niigata. It brings together 500 people who all make giant hot pots of crab soup, shrimp soup, minced fish soup, Japanese dumpling soup, and much more, all sold at affordable prices! We also highly recommend the nearby food tent village, where you can try some of Nadachi’s local cuisine.
You can even take a nice, long, relaxing bath after eating your fill at the nearby Umiterasu Nadachi while looking out onto the Japanese ocean with the backdrop of the setting sun. It’s simply perfect.
Event Information
Name: Nadachi Oonabe Festival |
Plus: Where’s the best-tasting crab?
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※Due to COVID-19, certain event timings/availability may differ from those stated in this article.