Japanese Regional Food Festivals 2025 in Tokyo: Dates, Locations, and Must-Try Dishes
Tokyo is a city filled with various attractions, from traditional shrines and temples to pop culture sacred sites like manga and games, and bustling entertainment districts lined with restaurants, always crowded with tourists. Tokyo's climate is clearly divided into four seasons, allowing visitors to enjoy different scenery throughout the year.
Did you know that in Tokyo, the center of Japan, there are must-see events gathering famous foods from all over the country held every month? In this article, we will introduce noteworthy food events at the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025 where you can "enjoy specialty dishes from all over Japan," along with highlights, basic information, schedules, and access to the venues.
9 Recommended Food Events Held in Tokyo in 2025 Where You Can Enjoy Specialty Dishes from All Over Japan
Throughout Japan, there are specialty dishes (regional cuisines) that differ according to the local character and culture of each region. Dishes using locally sourced ingredients or those that inherit traditions passed down from ancient times are all uniquely distinctive.
Here, we will introduce 9 recommended food events to be held in Tokyo in 2025 where you can enjoy specialty dishes from all over Japan.
Furusato Gourmet Terrace ~Tohoku Festival~ (April)
Source:Official website
The Furusato Gourmet Terrace ~Tohoku Festival~ (April) is an event held at Okachimachi Panda Square with the theme of "conveying the charm of the region through food," offering local gourmet foods and sake from Tohoku with the aim of regional revitalization.
Exquisite gourmet foods originating from Tohoku will be assembled at the venue:
- Morioka Cold Noodles (Iwate Prefecture)
- Yonezawa Beef (Yamagata Prefecture)
- Beef Tongue Steak (Miyagi Prefecture)
- Seafood Bowl (Aomori Prefecture)
- Grilled Sanriku Scallops (Iwate Prefecture)
and more
The grilled Sanriku scallops I ate were thick and satisfying, and with one bite, the aroma of the sea spread throughout my mouth for a blissful taste. I also purchased a set of four different types of sake to enjoy with the scallops. The selection includes rare fine sake that you usually can't drink, allowing you to experience a luxurious feeling.
By enjoying the food and local sake of Tohoku, this is a chance to support Tohoku from Tokyo and prevent the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 from fading from memory. Please enjoy the event while praying for the revitalization of Tohoku!
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- Dates: April 4-6, 18-20, 2025
- Access: 1-minute walk from JR Okachimachi Station, 2-minute walk from Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Ginza Line or Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Hibiya Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://furusato-gourmet-terrace.com/
OKINAWA FES Milafete (May)
Source:Official X
OKINAWA FES Milafete (May) is one of the largest Okinawan events in the Kanto region, held at Yoyogi Park, where you can enjoy Okinawan culture including music, traditional performing arts, gourmet food, and specialty products. The event started with the desire to "bring Okinawan culture, customer smiles, and everything to Tokyo."
As an Okinawa enthusiast, I have participated in this event before. There are four stages of various sizes set up at the venue, and I was overwhelmed by the powerful live performances by popular artists. The food booths offer a rich menu including Okinawan tacos, Spam onigiri, Okinawan soba, and alcoholic beverages like Orion beer and craft beers. Enjoying the live performances with food and drinks in hand will surely bring natural smiles to your face.
Why not experience the energy of Okinawa at this exciting event that recorded 250,000 visitors over two days as part of the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025?
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Dates: May 17-18, 2025
Access: Short walk from JR Harajuku Station or Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingumae Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.instagram.com/okinawafesmilafete/
Hokkaido Fair (September)
Source:PR TIMES
The Hokkaido Fair (September) is an event where you can enjoy dishes made with mountain and sea delicacies from Hokkaido at 10 restaurants within the Prince Park Tower Tokyo. The restaurants offer a variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines, with the attractive point being the ability to enjoy Hokkaido flavors prepared through various cooking methods.
I ordered a kaiseki course at the Japanese restaurant Shibazakura, which included a seafood bowl as the main dish along with grilled items, simmered dishes, and soup. I particularly liked the seafood bowl where I could choose 7 types of seafood from 15 varieties caught in places like Abashiri and Kushiro. My personalized luxury bowl with my favorites like tuna, shrimp, and salmon was absolutely sublime!
During the event, there are plenty of takeaway products such as Hokkaido-produced alcohol and sweets, which are perfect as souvenirs. I encourage you to fully experience the cuisine made with Hokkaido ingredients, often referred to as a treasure trove of food products, at the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025.
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- Schedule: September 2025
- Access: 2-minute walk from Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Line, 3-minute walk from Shibakoen Station on the Mita Line
- Admission fee: Cost of food and drinks
- Website: https://www.princehotels.co.jp/press/240409_03/ (2024 site)
Autumn Hokkaido Delicacies Festival (September)
Source:Ikebukuro Keizai Shimbun
The Autumn Hokkaido Delicacies Festival (September) is an event held at the 7F event space of Ikebukuro Seibu Main Store where you can enjoy Hokkaido gourmet with all five senses. As you approach the venue, the appetizing aroma of grilling meat wafts through the air!
I tried the freshly harvested corn which goes on sale in the afternoon due to air transportation constraints. The corn harvested in the early morning when sugar content is at its highest was juicy with an astonishing sweetness, just like eating a dessert. Being freshly harvested, it could be eaten raw, allowing me to enjoy the crisp texture and flavor of the vegetable itself.
The menu items delivered from Hokkaido include a wide variety of seafood, vegetables, meat, curry, ramen, and sweets. Choose the menu according to your mood when you visit the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025.
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- Schedule: September 17-18, 2025
- Access: Immediately from JR Ikebukuro Station
- Admission fee: Free
- Website: None
Kyushu Tourism and Products Fair in Yoyogi (October)
Source:Official website
The Kyushu Tourism and Products Fair in Yoyogi (October) is an event where you can casually enjoy the gourmet foods and traditional crafts of the Kyushu region. The food offerings include charcoal-grilled local chicken, Hakata hormone (offal) grill, champon noodles, tonkotsu ramen, and other supreme gourmet dishes representing Kyushu.
Since the fair offers meals that pair perfectly with alcohol, I also ordered a set of 5 different sake varieties for comparison. Each had a different aroma and flavor profile, which led me to buy additional snacks to pair with the sake. The booth featuring sake mainly from the Kyushu region also offered 3-variety tasting sets and all-you-can-drink plans. It's a must-visit for alcohol enthusiasts!
Why not enjoy Kyushu's autumn flavors under the blue sky in the open space of Yoyogi Park during the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025?
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- Schedule: October 2025
- Access: 9-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station / Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda Line and Fukutoshin Line
- Admission fee: Free
- Website: https://kyushu-yoyogipark.com/ (2024 site)
Japanese Regional Ramen Championship (October)
Source:Official website
The Japanese Regional Ramen Championship (October) is an event aimed at raising awareness of local ramen varieties by determining Japan's number one regional ramen. Ten finalist shops that have survived rigorous web preliminaries from various regions across Japan will compete for the No. 1 title at Okubo Park in Shinjuku as part of the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025.
Visitors vote for their favorite shop by using coins that come with their ramen tickets, and the top three places are determined by the number of votes received. The 2023 inaugural champion from Yamagata Prefecture, "Sakata Ramen," captured people's hearts with its springy noodles that perfectly complement the rich seafood-based broth.
I shared four bowls of ramen with different bases—soy sauce, miso, pork bone, and chicken—with my friend at the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025. Each meticulously crafted ramen was equally delicious, making it difficult to decide which shop to vote for until the very last moment.
Why not taste these passionate chefs' signature bowls and help crown your favorite regional ramen as Japan's best at the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025?
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- Date: October 2025
- Access: 2-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, 7-minute walk from JR Okubo Station or Higashi-Shinjuku Station on the Fukutoshin Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.ramenshow.jp/gr/
Katsushika Food Festa (November)
Source:Official website
The Katsushika Food Festa (November) is the area's largest gourmet event where representative restaurants from Katsushika Ward gather to showcase popular "Katsushika Gourmet" as another highlight of the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025.
The food area offers a wide range of menu items including skewered grilled items, fried chicken, long potato fries, and snacks perfect for walking around such as dango, daifuku, and crepes. The strawberry daifuku I tried, which contained a whole strawberry, had a delightful sweet-and-sour accent that made it irresistibly delicious.
The special stage features impressive performances by popular celebrities and local organizations based in the ward. Visitors to the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025 can also play with Beyblade (a plastic spinning top battle toy born in Katsushika), and various other activities enliven the event.
Why not spread out a leisure sheet in the park where ground covers are permitted, and leisurely enjoy the food and shows at this exciting part of the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025?
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- Date: November 2025
- Access: 6-minute walk from Shin-Koiwa Station on the Sobu Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/foodfesta/?hl=ja (2024 site)
SAKANA & JAPAN FESTIVAL in Odaiba (November)
Source:PR TIMES
The SAKANA & JAPAN FESTIVAL in Odaiba (November) is an event that began with the desire to create more interest in fish—Japan's soul food that is rich in nutrients.
When I attended, there was a wide variety of menu items including seafood rice bowls, salt-grilled pacific saury and sweetfish, paella, and ajillo. I enjoyed freshly grilled sweetfish on skewers, slowly cooked over charcoal. The sweetfish was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with the charcoal fragrance and salt adding accent to the flavor. Because of the simple cooking method, I could directly experience the umami of the ingredients.
Would you like to rediscover the appeal of fish through various cooking methods? The Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025 will feature this event as one of its highlights, offering visitors a true taste of Japan's seafood culture.
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- Date: November 2025
- Access: 7-minute walk from Yurikamome Daiba Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://37sakana.jp/sjfesodaiba/index.html#overview (2024 site)
National Regional Gourmet Fair (December)
Source:PR TIMES
The National Regional Gourmet Fair (December) is an event where you can enjoy local specialties from across Japan—from Hokkaido to Okinawa—in a buffet format. This is your chance to taste local specialties prepared by Tokyo Dome Hotel's top chefs.
The buffet includes Japanese and Western dishes such as sushi, kushiage, sara udon, hamburgers, and roast beef, making it enjoyable for children and adults alike. I particularly liked the lunch-exclusive eel Yanagawa-style. The sweet and savory eel paired with the slight spiciness of Japanese pepper was perfect, and I went back for seconds three times.
The charm of this event is that the dishes come in mini sizes, allowing you to try many different foods. Why not indulge in local specialty menus that you wouldn't normally get to eat? This part of the Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025 showcases the diversity of Japanese regional cuisine all in one location.
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- Date: December 2025
- Access: 1-minute walk from Suidobashi Station on the Mita Line, 2-minute walk from Suidobashi Station on the Sobu Line, 5-minute walk from Korakuen Station on the Marunouchi and Namboku Lines
- Admission: Lunch Adults 4,950 yen, Children 2,050 yen / Dinner Adults 6,500 yen, Children 2,300 yen, Free for children under 3
- Website: https://www.tokyodome-hotels.co.jp/restaurants/fair/rilassa-gotochi/ (2025 April-May site)
Recommended for Those Interested in Japanese Cuisine! Three Tours to Enjoy Exquisite Dishes with Local Guides Knowledgeable in Japanese Cuisine
Here, I'd like to introduce three tours recommended for those interested in Japanese cuisine, where you can enjoy exquisite dishes with local guides who are knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine. These specialized tours are part of the broader Tokyo Regional Food Festival 2025 experience, offering tourists an authentic taste of Japanese culinary traditions.
Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza
At Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza, you can enjoy the highest quality sushi and tempura in Ginza, an area that boasts some of Japan's top restaurants. The restaurants guided in this tour have earned Michelin stars or received high ratings on famous Japanese gourmet websites.
The first stop is a sushi restaurant popular among foreign tourists, where experienced chefs serve an omakase course featuring luxurious seasonal seafood. The second stop is a tempura restaurant. The tempura, made with carefully selected ingredients and simply prepared, has a light, crispy texture without any heaviness. Even after eating the sushi course, I finished all the tempura in no time.
The seats are reserved at the counter, making it attractive to enjoy your meal while watching the chefs' skilled techniques up close.
〈Meeting point〉
- Tour area: Ginza
- Start time: 16:30
Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
On the Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku, you can taste sushi and Japanese wagyu yakiniku, essential Tokyo gourmet experiences, in Shinjuku. The restaurants that local guides confidently take you to in Shinjuku, an area with many popular dining establishments, are hidden gems known only to insiders!
After meeting your guide, you'll first taste a variety of creative dishes at a sushi restaurant. Next, you'll head to a yakiniku restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality wagyu beef. At the yakiniku restaurant, you grill the meat yourself on the grill in front of you, adding to the fun of cooking. Finally, enjoy Japanese snacks and drinks, fully savoring Japan's world-class delicious cuisine!
Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Shinjuku at night while indulging in exquisite dishes that capture the essence of Japan!
〈Meeting point〉
- Tour area: Shinjuku
- Start time: 17:00, 18:00, 19:00
Wagyu Beef & Sake Pairing Foodie Tour in Ginza
The Wagyu Beef & Sake Pairing Foodie Tour in Ginza is a tour where you can enjoy wagyu beef and sake in Ginza.
First, you'll head to a casual bar operated by Nara Prefecture. Here, you can enjoy an all-you-can-drink selection of more than 20 different types of sake that change daily for 30 minutes. The bar offers a variety of sake, making it a perfect opportunity to find the brand that suits you best!
Next, you'll move to a teppanyaki restaurant that serves A5 rank wagyu beef, the highest level of wagyu. After finishing a course menu of meat, soup, and rice, you can indulge in all-you-can-eat wagyu steak. The well-marbled wagyu is full of umami, and you'll spend a blissful time.
On this tour, you can experience all-you-can-drink sake and all-you-can-eat wagyu beef, making it satisfying even for men. Why not forget about your diet for once and fill your stomach to your heart's content?
〈Meeting point〉
- Tour area: Ginza
- Start time: 17:00