Twelve neighborhood restaurants, one ticket, four curries. Curry Naru Tatakai in Suginami (カレーなる戦いin杉並), a curry festival now in its 16th edition, returns on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026. It runs as one of the events of the Koenji Festival 2026 (高円寺フェス2026), and this year it moves to a new venue with a lawn: Sugihachi Park at Flat Sugihachi (ふらっとすぎはち).
Below you will find what the ticket covers, the full lineup with spice levels, where you can sit and eat, and how to get there from the station.
Event details at a glance
| Event | 16th Curry Naru Tatakai in Suginami (第16回 カレーなる戦いin杉並 高円寺フェス編) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Hours | 11:00–16:00 (each curry ends when it sells out) |
| Venue | Sugihachi Park at Flat Sugihachi (ふらっとすぎはち すぎはち公園) |
| Address | 2-40-40 Koenji-minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (東京都杉並区高円寺南2-40-40) |
| Access | 8 min walk from JR Koenji Station 8 min walk from Shin-Koenji Station |
| Ticket | ¥1,700 (4 curries + rice), sold at the reception |
| Add-ons | Large rice: +¥300 One extra curry: +¥400 |
| Official site | currytatakai.com |
| Organizer | Koenji Festival Executive Committee (高円寺フェス実行委員会) |
How the ¥1,700 ticket works
The format is simple. Buy a ticket at the reception, then walk around the stalls and pick any four curries from the participating shops. Rice comes with the set, so ¥1,700 gets you a full tasting plate rather than four separate meals.
Two add-ons let you adjust the portion:
- Large rice: +¥300
- One more curry: +¥400 for a fifth variety
Because you only get small servings of each, this is a good way to try shops you might never walk into on your own, from a ramen bar to a Persian restaurant.
The 12 shops and their curries
This year’s lineup comes from four neighborhoods along the Chuo Line in Suginami: Koenji, Asagaya, Ogikubo and Nishi-Ogikubo. It is not just curry specialists. A ramen shop, a French curry restaurant, an Italian restaurant and two Iranian and Persian restaurants are taking part too.
One to watch: Curry Life Balance won the previous (15th) edition and is back with a coconut chicken curry billed as a follow-up to its award-winning dish. The full list from the official shop page:
| Area | Shop | Curry | Spice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koenji | cafe Diner Le’a Le’a | Le’a Le’a special beef keemaレアレア特製ビーフキーマ | Medium |
| Koenji | Ramen Jagura Koenjiラーメン じゃぐら高円寺 | Pork curry made with real ramen-shop know-how, topped with seared chashuラーメン屋が本気で作った豚カレー！炙りチャーシューも乗せちゃうよ☆ | Not stated |
| Koenji | Manmajiimaまんまじぃま | Offal and tomato curryホルモントマトカレー | Medium |
| Koenji | Sumibiya Odazumokko炭火家おだづもっこ | Date no Kiwami double beef curry (a rich curry made with two cuts of beef)伊達の極み W牛カレー | Medium |
| Koenji | Curry Life Balance分子栄養学キッチン カレーライフバランス | Coconut chicken curry from the 15th edition winner“第15回優勝店がつくる第2の名作”ココナッツチキンカレー | Mild |
| Koenji | Persian Restaurant Bolbolペルシアンレストラン ボルボル | Butter chickenバターチキン | Mild |
| Asagaya | JameJamイラン・ペルシャ料理 JameJam（ジャメジャム） | Lamb braised with herbs, curry styleラムのハーブ煮込み カレー | Medium |
| Asagaya | 日日夜夜 | Spicy curry loaded with chicken gizzards砂肝ゴロゴロスパイシーカレー | Hot |
| Asagaya | Amaterasuあまてらす | Healthy curry with Suginami-grown winter melon and Sendai fu (wheat gluten)杉並産冬瓜と仙台麩のヘルシーカレー | Medium |
| Ogikubo | Yellow Spoonイエロースプーン | Tender chicken curry and keema curry on one plateほろほろチキンカレーとやみつきキーマカレー | Medium |
| Ogikubo | Ristorante Dramaticoリストランテ ドラマティコ | Porcini bolognese curry with fluffy cheeseポルチーニ香るボロネーゼカレー ふわふわチーズ添え | Medium |
| Nishi-Ogikubo | French Curry SPOONフレンチカレーSPOON | Creamy chicken curry with truffle aromaトリュフ香る チキンクリーミーカレー | Mild |
Spice levels follow the event listing: Mild (甘口), Medium (中辛) and Hot (辛口). Each shop may sell out at its own pace.
Vote for your favorite curry
After eating, visitors can vote for the shop they liked best in the Gourmet Ranking (グルメランキング). It turns the tasting into a small competition, which is where the event gets its name: a curry battle between local restaurants.
If you have a favorite among your four picks, cast your vote before you leave. It is also a handy way to remember which shops to visit later at their regular locations.
Where you can sit and eat
Earlier editions were held at Koenji Central Park (高円寺中央公園). In 2026 the event moves to Sugihachi Park, and there are three places to eat:
- The lawn: you can spread a picnic sheet on the grass.
- Standing area: some standing tables are set up on site.
- Indoor lounge: the park-side lounge on the first floor of the Flat Sugihachi building.
With a lawn to sit on, it works well as a relaxed autumn weekend outing with kids.
Getting there
The venue sits between two stations, and both are about the same distance away:
- JR Chuo Line, Koenji Station: about 8 minutes on foot
- Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Shin-Koenji Station: about 8 minutes on foot
The address for your map app is 2-40-40 Koenji-minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (東京都杉並区高円寺南2-40-40). Search for Flat Sugihachi or the Japanese address if the English name does not show up.
Tips before you go
- Arrive early. Curries run out shop by shop, and the event closes each curry once it is gone. If you want a specific dish, the earlier the better.
- Plan your four picks. Use the table above to choose before you queue. Mixing one mild curry with a hot one helps your palate reset.
- Want five? The +¥400 add-on gives you one more variety without buying a second ticket.
- Bring a picnic sheet if you want to sit on the lawn.
- Check the official site on the day for payment methods and any weather updates.
Looking for more weekend plans? Our guide to the Musashino Art University Festival covers another western Tokyo event this season, and the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign can cut the cost of leisure tickets. For more food deals, see the Taiyo no Tomato Men free ramen coupon festival, and for outdoor events in Tokyo, the Shibaura Canal Festival guide.
FAQ
- How much does Curry Naru Tatakai cost?
- A ticket costs ¥1,700 and covers four curries of your choice plus rice. A large serving of rice is ¥300 extra, and one additional curry is ¥400 extra.
- Where is the 2026 event held?
- At Sugihachi Park, part of Flat Sugihachi, 2-40-40 Koenji-minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo. Earlier editions were held at Koenji Central Park.
- What are the opening hours?
- 11:00 to 16:00 on both October 24 and 25, 2026. Each shop stops serving once its curry runs out.
- Which station is closest?
- JR Koenji Station on the Chuo Line and Shin-Koenji Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line are both about an 8-minute walk away.
- Can I pay by card, and what happens if it rains?
- Payment methods and rain arrangements have not been announced in the information available so far. Check the official website before you go.