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Shiretoko salmon fishermen come to Sapporo with free salmon and ikura bowls
- DatesDec 7 (Mon) – 8 (Tue)
- Hours10:30–18:00
- Free bowls50 a day · 100 in total
- Tickets for bowlsFrom 10:30
- VenueChi-Ka-Ho, Kita 3-jo Intersection Plaza, Sapporo
Why Shari’s fishermen are coming to Sapporo
The autumn salmon catch in Shari, a town on the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido, has been even poorer in 2026 than last year. Instead of going quiet, the local fishermen decided to meet consumers face to face. Their goal is simple: give people more chances to eat salmon and to learn about local fishing, so that salmon stays on people’s tables.
The result is the Salmon Fishermen’s Festival (鮭漁師祭り), now in its fourth year. It used to run for one day; this year it stretches over two. The fishermen stand behind the counters themselves and talk about how they fish and what makes their products different, which is something you rarely get at a supermarket fish counter.
Free salmon and ikura bowls: how to get one
The headline draw is a salmon and ikura bowl (鮭いくら丼) made with Shiretoko salmon and salmon roe, served free of charge. Only 50 bowls are available each day, so the order of things matters:
- 10:30 – numbered tickets for the bowls are handed out
- 12:00 – the bowls are served
- 50 bowls per day, 100 over the two days
With so few bowls, aim to be at the plaza when ticket distribution starts. If you enjoy chasing free food deals in Japan, our guide to Gindaco’s 45-minute takoyaki all-you-can-eat is another good one to keep on your list.
Seafood stalls and what they sell
Fishing companies and seafood processors from Shari set up stalls, so you can buy straight from the people who caught or prepared the fish. Here is a sample of what each exhibitor plans to sell:
| Exhibitor | Planned items (examples) |
|---|---|
| Hokuyo Kyodo Gyogyobu Ltd. (有限会社北洋共同漁業部) | Boneless autumn salmon fillets, ikura marinated in soy sauce, Raiun Salmon (来運サーモン), shredded kelp |
| Hokei Gyogyobu Ltd. (有限会社豊慶漁業部) | Overnight-dried hokke, overnight-dried cherry salmon, tokishirazu salmon blocks for sashimi |
| Shari Daiichi Fisheries Cooperative Youth Division (斜里第一漁業協同組合 青年部) | Yamazuke salt-cured salmon (cuts and fillets) |
| Maru-A Nojiri Masatake Shoten (丸あ野尻正武商店) | Sazanami Salmon, salmon and roe marinade (鮭親子漬), Okhotsk three-color marinade (オホーツク三色漬) Sales end at 14:00 on Dec 8 |
| Shiretoko Kobo (知床工房) | Overnight-dried kinki rockfish, octopus sashimi, whelk sashimi |
| Yamaya Shiretoko Hokusho (ヤマヤ知床北翔) | Fried genge, fried true pufferfish |
| Shiretoko Shari (一般社団法人知床しゃり) | Shiretoko Toko-san character goods, T-shirts, tenugui towels and more |
| Shari Town Office (斜里町役場) | Information on hometown tax donations |
Many of these are items you would normally have to travel to eastern Hokkaido or order online to find, so it is worth bringing a cool bag if you plan to stock up.
Lottery and quiz show
Lottery (10:30–17:00 both days). Every ¥1,000 you spend at the stalls earns one lottery ticket, and two tickets get you one draw. The top prize is 500 g of ikura marinated in soy sauce. Other prizes include seafood from the exhibitors and Toko-san goods, and there is a participation prize too.
Quiz show (17:30–18:00 both days). The day ends with a quiz for everyone at the venue, with AOAO SAPPORO scheduled to appear as a guest. Correct answers can win prizes such as AOAO pair tickets and Toko-san goods, and a wrong answer still earns a participation prize.
Hometown tax donations at the venue
Hometown tax donations (furusato nozei, ふるさと納税) let you donate to a municipality of your choice and receive a local product as a thank-you gift. As at last year’s festival, the Shari Town Office booth plans to let you donate on the spot and take an eligible return gift home with you.
- Donations are accepted until 17:00 on both days
- The town plans to use the money only for salmon-related projects
- Eligible items and procedures are explained at the booth on the day
Event overview and daily schedule
| Event | Salmon Fishermen’s Festival: Shiretoko Shari, Japan’s Number One Salmon Town (鮭漁師祭り 〜鮭、日本一のまち 知床・斜里町〜) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8, 2026 10:30–18:00 both days |
| Venue | Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho), Kita 3-jo Intersection Plaza |
| Address | Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho), Kita 3-jo Intersection Plaza, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
| Organizer | Shari Daiichi Fisheries Cooperative Set-Net Division (斜里第一漁業協同組合定置部会) |
| Free bowls | Salmon and ikura bowls from 12:00, 50 per day Tickets handed out from 10:30 |
Same schedule on both days:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Stalls open, bowl tickets handed out, lottery starts |
| 12:00 | Free salmon and ikura bowls served (50 per day) |
| 17:00 | Lottery and hometown tax donations close |
| 17:30–18:00 | Quiz show |
| 18:00 | Event ends |
Tips for a smooth visit
- Want a free bowl? Be there by 10:30 for the numbered tickets, then come back at 12:00.
- Shopping at Maru-A Nojiri Masatake Shoten on Dec 8? Go before 14:00, when their sales end that day.
- Keep your receipts in mind. Lottery tickets come with every ¥1,000 spent, and draws stop at 17:00.
- Planning a hometown tax donation? The booth stops taking donations at 17:00.
- Staying late? The quiz from 17:30 is the last event of the day.
Looking for more free events? We also covered the free LOCALGREEN FESTIVAL at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. And if a winter trip to Hokkaido is on your mind, our pick of Japan’s 21 top-rated hot springs and the Kappa Sushi lucky bag with coupons worth its price are good next reads for seafood fans.
FAQ
- Q. Are the salmon and ikura bowls really free?
- Yes. The organizers serve salmon and ikura bowls free of charge from 12:00 on both days, 50 bowls each day and 100 over the two days.
- Q. How do I get a bowl?
- Numbered tickets are handed out from 10:30 on each day. The bowls are served from 12:00.
- Q. Where exactly is the festival held?
- It is held at the Kita 3-jo Intersection Plaza of the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) in Sapporo.
- Q. What are the opening hours?
- Both days run from 10:30 to 18:00. Sales and the lottery start at 10:30, and the quiz from 17:30 closes the day.
- Q. How does the lottery work?
- You receive one lottery ticket for every ¥1,000 you spend, and two tickets give you one draw. The lottery runs from 10:30 to 17:00, the top prize is 500 g of ikura marinated in soy sauce, and there is a participation prize.
- Q. Can I make a hometown tax donation at the venue?
- Shari Town Office plans to accept donations at its booth until 17:00 on both days, and you can take eligible return gifts home on the spot. The town plans to use the money only for salmon-related projects. Details are explained at the booth on the day.
- Q. Is every stall open until 18:00 on both days?
- Maru-A Nojiri Masatake Shoten plans to end sales at 14:00 on Tuesday, December 8. Plans, products and prizes may change.
- Q. Who is the guest at the quiz?
- AOAO SAPPORO is scheduled to appear as a guest at the quiz from 17:30 to 18:00. Correct answers can win prizes such as AOAO pair tickets and Toko-san goods, and a wrong answer still earns a participation prize.
Source: press release by Hokuyo Kyodo Gyogyobu Ltd. (PR TIMES, November 6, 2026). Plans, products and prizes may change.
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