Hokkaido Fair in Yoyogi: a four-day taste of Japan’s northern island
Seafood bowls, miso ramen, butter potatoes and soft serve, cooked fresh outdoors.
Information checked on . Details can change, so confirm on the official site before you go.
If you like Japanese regional food but can’t fit a trip up north this autumn, this is an easy weekend (or weekday) plan. The 36th Hokkaido Fair in Yoyogi (第36回 北海道フェア in 代々木 ～ザ・北海食道～) brings around 70 booths to Yoyogi Park from Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 October 2026. Getting in costs nothing; you only pay for what you eat and drink.
It is a long-running annual event, and last year it drew more than 180,000 visitors, so expect crowds, especially on the weekend.
Key facts at a glance
| Event | 36th Hokkaido Fair in Yoyogi (第36回 北海道フェア in 代々木 ～ザ・北海食道～) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 October 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00–19:00 Final day (Sunday 4 October) closes at 18:00 |
| Venue | Yoyogi Park Event Plaza, Outdoor Stage and the zelkova tree avenue (Jinnan 2-chome, Shibuya, next to NHK Broadcasting Center) |
| Admission | Free (food and drinks cost extra) |
| Weather | Goes ahead in rain Cancelled in stormy weather |
Source: Hokkaido Fair in Yoyogi official website
What makes this fair worth a visit
Plenty of Tokyo food festivals sell generic festival snacks. The draw here is that most exhibitors are businesses headquartered or based in Hokkaido: well-known restaurants, local favourites and smaller places you would normally have to travel to find.
- Cooked on the spot. Dishes made with Hokkaido ingredients are served fresh at the booths rather than packed in advance.
- Easy to compare. Seafood, meat, vegetables and sweets are all in one place, so a group can split several plates and try a bit of everything.
- No ticket needed. With free entry, you can walk in, look around and decide what to buy.
Dishes to look out for
The organisers have highlighted the following menu items. Prices have not been listed in the information we checked, so look at the booth boards or the official site.
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Jumbo butter potato topped with shiokara (北あかりのジャンボじゃがバター塩辛のせ) | Fluffy Kita-akari potato with salted squid |
| Botan shrimp seafood bowl (ぼたんえび海鮮丼) | A rice bowl piled with seafood |
| Rich miso ramen with golden noodles (黄金麺の濃厚味噌らーめん) | Thick miso broth with yellow noodles |
| Seared beef toro and salmon roe bowl (炙り牛トロいくら丼) | Seared fatty beef and ikura on rice |
| Shiroi Koibito soft serve (白い恋人ソフトクリーム) | Soft serve using the chocolate of the classic Hokkaido souvenir |
| Hokkaido butter-soy grilled shiitake (北海道バター醤油しいたけ焼き) | Grilled mushrooms with butter and soy sauce |
| Ikameshi (いかめし) | A Hokkaido local dish of rice-stuffed squid |
These are only examples. With roughly 70 booths, the full line-up is much wider, so the official site is the place to plan which stalls to hit first.
Weekday morning program and beer lottery
Hokkaido de Morning (weekdays only)
New this year, Hokkaido de Morning (北海道 de モーニング) runs only on the two weekdays, Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October. It is billed as a way to enjoy popular Hokkaido dishes at a better deal from the morning. Exactly which items and discounts are included has not been detailed in the information we have, so check the official site if you plan your visit around it.
Discount-ticket lottery for Sapporo beer buyers
Anyone who buys Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label (サッポロ生ビール黒ラベル) at the venue can enter a lottery for a discount ticket. It is limited to the first 100 people each day, so if you want to try, arrive early rather than late in the afternoon.
Getting there
The fair uses the Event Plaza, Outdoor Stage and zelkova tree avenue on the Shibuya side of Yoyogi Park, next to the NHK Broadcasting Center. Four stations are within walking distance:
| Station | Line | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Harajuku | JR | About 7 min |
| Yoyogi-koen | Tokyo Metro | About 7 min |
| Meiji-jingumae | Tokyo Metro | About 7 min |
| Yoyogi-Hachiman | Odakyu Line | About 6 min |
Coming from outside Tokyo? Autumn rail deals can cut the cost of the trip. Our guide to the Aki no Norihodai Pass for three days of JR local trains and the rundown of 50%-off Tokudane Special 28 Shinkansen fares are worth a look. If you are flying in, see how the JAL domestic flash sale works for next time.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Remember the early close on Sunday. The last day ends at 18:00, an hour earlier than the other days.
- Check the weather, not just the forecast of rain. Light rain won’t stop the fair, but it is called off in stormy conditions. Look at the official site on the morning you go.
- Go as a group and share. Splitting dishes is the easiest way to sample more of the 70 booths without getting too full.
- Budget for food only. Entry is free, but you pay for every dish and drink. Prices weren’t published in what we checked, so confirm at the booths.
- Make a day of it. After eating, a soak at a public bath is a nice finish. Our post on the Tokyo sento half-price coupon explains how to get in for ¥300.
FAQ
- Q. Do I need to pay to get in?
- No. Admission to the Hokkaido Fair in Yoyogi is free. You only pay for the food and drinks you buy.
- Q. Will the fair go ahead if it rains?
- Yes, it is held in rain. It is only cancelled in stormy weather, so check the official site on the day.
- Q. What are the opening hours?
- 10:00 to 19:00 from 1 to 3 October. On the final day, Sunday 4 October, it closes at 18:00.
- Q. What is Hokkaido de Morning?
- A new program held only on the weekdays, 1 and 2 October, offering popular Hokkaido dishes at a better deal from the morning. See the official site for the exact items.
- Q. How much do the dishes cost?
- Prices were not listed in the information we checked. Look at the menu boards at each booth or the official site.