Written by Alexandra Ziminski
Researched by Aarohi Narain
Load up your plate at this year’s Sakana and Japan Festival. Happening over the course of four days, this is a chance to sample some of Japan’s best sakana (fish).
This is a sister event to Hibiya Park’s Fisherman’s Festival in November.
What happens?
There will be around 80 booths selling seafood delicacies, such as tuna, salmon, sea urchin, and crab. But not everyone will be making purely Japanese dishes; there will also be seafood paella, along with ramen and rice.
Highlights
Sakana & Japan Festival is also tied to a wider effort to support Japan’s fishing communities.
A dedicated area spotlights seafood from Fukushima Prefecture, showcasing local fish and regional dishes while helping producers continue to rebuild and find new markets.
You’ll also find booths featuring seafood from Hokkaido and the wider Tōhoku region, highlighting the diversity of Japan’s coastal food culture.
Beyond eating, some booths host live tuna-cutting demonstrations, where freshly delivered tuna is broken down on site and served immediately. Culinary students from specialist sushi schools also take part, preparing sushi in open kitchen trucks.
Running alongside the main festival this year is the Fukushima Sweets Festival, where limited-edition desserts made with regional ingredients are sold. These sweets are created through collaborations between local high school students and professional pastry chefs.
