Japan does food festivals right, from grilled shellfish to free-flow wine and beef
Yes, you read that right: Free flow of Japanese wine and beef. Japanese matsuri, or festivals, are definitely worth travelling for. They can range from a simple but delicious street fair serving all kinds of seafood, to a full-fledged affair complete with a whole-cow grill and popular J-indie acts.
In East Hokkaido, we discovered two such events that blow other concepts of Japan matsuri you may have out of the water. Here's where to find them.
Ikeda Autumn Wine Festival
On regular days, Tokachi Wine Castle is a wine factory open to the public for visits and tastings. But for just two days a year in the beginning of Autumn, the field before the castle transforms into giant festival grounds for the Ikeda Autumn Wine Festival.
As you approach the field, the sound of music and excited hosts fills the air, and the tempting smell of grilled food beckons you. Walk through the entrance and collect your festival essentials: A styrofoam box-plate, a plastic cup, chopsticks and a silver foam mat.
Then, get ready to fill them up. The festival offers free-flow Ikeda beef, pre-marinated and grilled in different styles; as well as free-flow of different grades of wine from Tokachi. Pick a spot on the grass and camp out with friends, or gather around one of the many free-for-all table grills that get constantly stocked with beef slices.
If you’ve got the time and patience, be sure to queue – for up to an hour – for the huge whole-cow grill, or mariyaki, in the middle of the fair. This meat has been slow-grilled overnight for eight hours before being served at the event.
Admission costs 4,000 yen per adult, 2,000 yen for school students, 1,000 yen for elementary-school students and free for preschoolers. There are only 5,000 tickets available, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Nearest airport: Obihiro Airport
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