A new food festival is coming to Saitama this autumn. Ebi Kani Fes 2026 (エビカニフェス2026) turns Saitama Shintoshin Keyaki Hiroba into a four-day market for shrimp and crab dishes, running from Saturday, October 31 to Tuesday, November 3 (Culture Day, a public holiday). This is the first time it has been held.
Entry is free, so you can walk in, look around and pay only for what you eat. One thing to know before you go: the venue does not take cash. Bring a card, a transit IC card or a payment app.
Key facts at a glance
| Dates | Oct 31 (Sat) – Nov 3 (Tue, holiday), 4 days |
|---|---|
| Hours | 11:00–20:00 every day |
| Venue | Saitama Shintoshin Keyaki Hiroba (さいたま新都心けやきひろば), outdoor space with seating |
| Entry | Free (food and drinks paid separately) |
| Size | 10 restaurants, 20+ dishes |
| Weather | Held rain or shine; may be cancelled in stormy weather |
| Payment | Cashless only, no cash at the venue |
First menu: six shrimp and crab dishes
The organizers have revealed six dishes so far. Prices include tax and are as announced on September 30, 2026. Menus and prices may change without notice, so treat this as a preview rather than a final price list.
| Restaurant | Dish | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SUSHI BAR COZY | Red snow crab shell with ikura | ¥2,000 |
| Kani Zanmai | Snow crab meat sushi (3 pieces) | ¥1,000 |
| Niku to Kaisen Kiwami | Butter-grilled snow crab legs | ¥1,600 |
| TOKYO Ebi Fry | Two-style fried shrimp set | ¥1,400 |
| Niku to Kaisen Kiwami | Grilled wild sea tiger prawn | ¥1,000 |
| Arabesque Yomenjo | Garlic shrimp tomato soup pasta | ¥1,200 |
Crab
SUSHI BAR COZY, a sushi bar with locations in Gotanda and Sangenjaya, is joining an event for the first time. Its red snow crab shell bowl (紅ズワイガニの痛風甲羅盛り) packs a Hokkaido red snow crab shell with crab miso, flaked meat and three leg pieces, then tops it all with a generous layer of salmon roe. ¥2,000
Kani Zanmai (かにざんまい), a crab all-you-can-eat restaurant, brings snow crab meat sushi (本ズワイガニ むき身づくし寿司), three pieces piled with shelled snow crab. ¥1,000
Niku to Kaisen Kiwami (肉と海鮮 極) comes from Susukino in Sapporo and focuses on Hokkaido ingredients. Its butter-grilled snow crab legs (本ズワイガニ脚バター焼き) use only extra-large leg meat, grilled in rich butter. ¥1,600
Shrimp
TOKYO Ebi Fry (TOKYOエビフライ) is a fried shrimp specialist in Yoyogi that switches between three frying temperatures depending on the type and size of shrimp. The two-style fried shrimp set (ぷりぷり&しっとりエビフライ2種) lets you compare a firm, springy shrimp with a softer one that has a deep, rich flavor. ¥1,400
Niku to Kaisen Kiwami also has a shrimp dish: grilled wild sea tiger prawn (稀少！天然大型シータイガーエビ焼き), large wild black tiger prawns simply grilled. ¥1,000
Arabesque Yomenjo (アラベスク洋麺所), a pasta shop that opened in Shiga in 2025, serves garlic shrimp tomato soup pasta (ガーリック香る！濃厚トマトスープエビパスタ): chewy pasta in a rich tomato broth with shrimp and meaty depth, topped with garlic shrimp. A warm option for a cool November evening. ¥1,200
More dishes are on the way. Later announcements will cover shrimp and crab dishes from other cuisines, including ethnic, Chinese and Italian, plus domestic and imported craft beers to pair with the food.
How to get there
| Saitama-Shintoshin Station | About 3 min on foot. JR Keihin-Tohoku, Utsunomiya (Tohoku Main Line), Takasaki and Ueno-Tokyo lines |
|---|---|
| Kita-Yono Station | About 7 min on foot. JR Saikyo Line |
Both are JR stations. If you are planning several days of travel on JR local lines this autumn, our guide to the Aki no Norihodai Pass for unlimited JR local trains explains how the pass works; check its valid dates before counting on it for this trip.
Payment: cashless only
The whole festival is cashless and staff will not accept cash. These methods are listed as accepted:
| Credit cards | VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners |
|---|---|
| E-money | Transit IC cards (Suica etc.), WAON, nanaco, Rakuten Edy, iD, QUICPay |
| QR payments | PayPay, d Barai, au PAY, Rakuten Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, AEON Pay |
If you have only cash, top up a transit IC card before you arrive. Still deciding which card to carry in Japan? Our guide to credit cards for foreigners in Japan and which one to get first walks through the options. New to PayPay? See how to get bonus points with a PayPay referral code before you set it up.
Tips before you go
- Wear red. The organizers want to turn the plaza red, the color of cooked shrimp and crab, and hint that visitors in red clothing may get a little surprise. Details are due in the second announcement.
- Check the weather. The event runs in the rain but may be called off in a storm. Look at the official site or the official X account on the day.
- Allergies. Every dish contains shrimp or crab. For other allergens, ask at each stall.
- Follow for new menus. The rest of the 20+ dishes will be announced later on the official site, Instagram and TikTok.
Looking for more free outings this autumn? See our guides to the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks and the Shibaura Canal Festival with its free canal cruise.
The festival is organized by the Ebi Kani Fes Executive Committee (エビカニフェス実行委員会), made up of Live Exam Co., Ltd. and LAF Entertainment Co., Ltd., with SoftBank as sponsor. Source: official press release on PR TIMES.
FAQ
- Q. Is entry free?
- Yes. Entry is free; you pay only for the food and drinks you order.
- Q. Can I pay with cash?
- No. The festival is fully cashless and the venue does not handle cash. Credit cards, e-money such as transit IC cards, and QR payments such as PayPay are accepted.
- Q. What happens if it rains?
- The festival goes ahead in the rain, but it may be cancelled in stormy weather. Check the official site or X account before you leave.
- Q. Is there seating?
- Yes. The venue is an outdoor space with a seating area.
- Q. Which station is closest?
- Saitama-Shintoshin Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku, Utsunomiya, Takasaki and Ueno-Tokyo lines, about a 3-minute walk. Kita-Yono Station on the JR Saikyo Line is about 7 minutes on foot.
- Q. I have a food allergy. What should I check?
- Every menu item uses shrimp or crab. For other allergens, ask at each stall.