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Fresh crab shopping, seafood to eat on site, and four festival days across two weekends. The Echizen Crab Festival (越前かにまつり2026) takes place in Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture, on November 14–15 and November 21–22, 2026. Stalls open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
The timing follows the November 6 opening of the Echizen crab fishing season. For visitors, the main draw is the chance to browse local crab and seafood stalls in one place, with grilled and fried seafood available to eat during the visit.
Check the official festival information
Dates, hours and venue
This is not a continuous November 14–22 event. Choose one of the four dates below; the festival schedule does not include the weekdays between the two weekends.
| First weekend | Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Second weekend | Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026 |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on all four days |
| Venue | Nigiwai Plaza at Michi-no-Eki Echizen (道の駅「越前」にぎわい広場) |
| Address | 71-335-1 Kuriya, Echizen Town, Nyu District, Fukui Prefecture |
| Organizer | Echizen Crab Festival Executive Committee, based at the Echizen Town Tourism Federation |
| Inquiries | 0778-37-1234 |
Crab stalls and seafood: what to look for
The festival combines seafood shopping with food stalls. Echizen crab is the headline attraction, but the announced selection also includes Seiko crab, local fish and dried seafood.
| What to browse | Announced selection |
|---|---|
| Crab | Echizen crab (越前がに) and Seiko crab (セイコガニ) |
| Other seafood | Echizen flounder (越前がれい) and sweet shrimp (甘えび) |
| Dried seafood | Locally prepared dried fish and other seafood products |
| Food to eat at the festival | Grilled seafood and fried seafood |
If you are mainly coming to eat, the grilled and fried seafood stalls give you another reason to visit beyond buying a whole crab. If you are shopping, leave time to look through the fish and dried seafood displays as well.
The photographs supplied with the announcement show the festival setting and seafood displays. Use the organizer’s announcement and official event page when checking details for this edition.
Festival activities beyond the food stalls
The announced special activities include a museum quiz rally and a crab-shell stacking game. They offer something to look out for alongside the seafood shopping.
| Activity | What is announced |
|---|---|
| Find Echizen Kanitaro quiz rally | A special activity at the Echizen Crab Museum (越前がにミュージアム), titled 越前かに太郎を探せ～クイズラリー編～ |
| Crab-shell stacking game | The festival’s shell-stacking activity (かにの甲ら積みゲーム) |
Parking and the free shuttle bus
Three parking locations are listed. The useful distinction is that the temporary parking area at Kuriya Fishing Port Plaza has a free shuttle to the venue, taking about five minutes.
| Parking location | Details |
|---|---|
| Michi-no-Eki Echizen north-side parking lot | One of the designated festival parking areas |
| Active Ground (アクティブグラウンド) | Unavailable in rainy weather |
| Kuriya Fishing Port Plaza (くりや漁港広場) | Temporary parking; free shuttle to the venue, approximately five minutes |
For phone charging during a day out, our d VALUE PASS and ChargeSPOT guide explains the rental service separately. It does not confirm rental locations at this festival.
If you are considering a longer trip with an onsen stay, the Yuchelin three-star hot spring guide and Michelin Key onsen accommodation guide offer broader ideas across Japan. They are separate travel references, rather than a list of accommodation beside the venue.
What the yellow tag on Echizen crab means
Echizen crab is snow crab landed at ports in Fukui Prefecture. Its fishing season opens on November 6 each year, which is why the festival is held at this time of year.
The yellow tag identifies its origin. It is attached at the base of the right claw, and the reverse names the landing port. A tag marked Echizen Port identifies crab landed there.
For more background on the crab and its origin tags, see the official Echizen crab brand website.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Echizen Crab Festival?
- The festival runs on November 14, 15, 21 and 22, 2026. These are four separate festival days across two weekends, not a continuous November 14–22 event.
- What time does the festival open and close?
- Hours are 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on each of the four days.
- Where is the venue?
- The venue is Nigiwai Plaza at Michi-no-Eki Echizen, at 71-335-1 Kuriya, Echizen Town, Nyu District, Fukui Prefecture.
- What seafood will be sold?
- The announcement lists Echizen crab, Seiko crab, Echizen flounder, sweet shrimp, dried seafood, and grilled and fried seafood.
- Is there a shuttle from the parking area?
- A free shuttle runs from the temporary parking area at Kuriya Fishing Port Plaza to the venue. The journey takes about five minutes.
- Can Active Ground parking be used in the rain?
- No. Active Ground is unavailable in rainy weather.
- Are any activities announced?
- The announcement includes a Find Echizen Kanitaro quiz rally at the Echizen Crab Museum and a crab-shell stacking game.
- Who can I contact about the festival?
- Contact the Echizen Crab Festival Executive Committee, based at the Echizen Town Tourism Federation, on 0778-37-1234.
Before you travel: check the official festival page for current visitor information. This article is based on the Echizen Town Tourism Federation’s announcement of November 2, 2026.
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