Sun 10:00–15:00
Tokyo’s wholesale meat market in Shinagawa is normally a working facility for traders, but for one weekend a year it opens its doors to everyone. The Tokyo Meat Market Festival 2026 (東京食肉市場まつり2026) takes place on October 17 and 18, 2026, and entry is free. This year’s featured beef is from Kumamoto Prefecture, and the headline draws are free shabu-shabu tastings and meat sold at special prices.
Below you’ll find the tasting times and how the ticket system works, what you can buy, the stage schedule, and a few practical tips so you don’t leave empty-handed.
What the festival is
The event is run by the Tokyo Meat Market Association, a general incorporated association, and co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. 2026 marks its 45th edition. The venue is the meat market of the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market (東京都中央卸売市場食肉市場), which the organizers open specially once a year.
According to the organizer, the aim is to boost consumption of domestic beef and pork, help people understand what the market does, and show that brand beef is both tasty and safe.
This year’s featured brand is Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu (くまもと黒毛和牛). The organizer defines it as Japanese Black cattle (steers and heifers that have never calved) that spent at least 12 months in Kumamoto, were raised in Kumamoto longer than anywhere else, finished there, and graded 3 or higher for meat quality.
Free tasting: times and tickets
Three dishes are served free on both days. The start times are the same on Saturday and Sunday.
| Dish | Starts (both days) |
|---|---|
| Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu shabu-shabu | 10:00 |
| Kumamoto pork shabu-shabu | 10:00 |
| Motsu nikomi (simmered offal stew) | 13:00 |
If you miss the free servings, there are paid options too: a food truck selling steak rice bowls made with Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu and Kumamoto Akaushi beef (limited quantities), and a world street food stall.
What you can buy
Shopping is the other big reason people come. The organizer lists these sales corners:
| Corner | What’s on offer |
|---|---|
| Meat and processed meat | Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu, plus domestic beef, pork and processed meats at special prices |
| Brand pork | Named-brand pork |
| Kumamoto products and PR | Local specialties from Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Ota Market vegetables | Fresh vegetables from Tokyo’s largest vegetable market (Ota Market Association) |
| Leather goods | Leather products and small accessories |
| Meidi-ya foods | Food products from Meidi-ya |
| Tokyo Island corner | Antenna shop for the Izu and Ogasawara Islands |
| Cooler bags | Cooler bags for sale; free ice packs for anyone who buys something |
The organizer has not published prices or a product list, so there’s no way to know in advance exactly what will be on the counters. Prices and stock are decided on the day.
Stage shows and other things to do
The stage runs throughout both days. The Kumamoto PR sessions bring celebrity guests, and Kumamon, Kumamoto’s mascot, is also listed to appear.
| Program | Sat Oct 17 | Sun Oct 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening ceremony | 10:10 | – |
| Oi Gongen Taiko (drum performance) | 11:00 | 10:35 |
| Kumamoto PR corner | 12:00 / 14:00 Guest: EXILE NESMITH with Kumamon | 11:30 / 13:00 Guest: Hiroshi |
| Brass band | 13:00 | 12:15 |
| Minna no ICHIBA quiz | 14:45 | 14:25 |
| Kids dance | 15:15 | 13:45 |
On the 6th floor of the Center Building there are two indoor corners:
- Meat Information Hall: explains how the Shibaura slaughterhouse and the meat market work before meat reaches your table.
- Shibaura Meat Sanitation Inspection Office corner: a short talk on eating meat safely. People who fill out a questionnaire receive a mini cooler bag.
Scratch cards and the parking ticket
If you’re planning a proper shop, this is worth knowing. For every ¥3,000 you spend inside the market, you get one scratch card.
- Prizes include a Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu gift card worth ¥10,000 (top prize) and Kumamoto specialty products (A prize).
- Prizes are exchanged at Konan Fureai Hiroba, the plaza by the Konan exit of Shinagawa Station.
- If you came by car, the scratch card can also be exchanged for a free 1-hour ticket for the Shinagawa Intercity underground car park (one per car).
- The number of scratch cards is limited.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early for the tasting. Wagyu and pork shabu-shabu both start at 10:00, and tickets are first come, first served. If you only care about the motsu stew, 13:00 is the time to aim for.
- Watch the last entry time. Entry closes 30 minutes before the end: 15:30 on Saturday and 14:30 on Sunday.
- Plan for the trip home. Ice packs are free with a purchase and cooler bags are sold on site, but bringing your own insulated bag makes carrying raw meat on the train much easier.
- Sunday is shorter. The market closes at 15:00 on the 18th.
- Make a day of it. If you want to unwind after walking the market, our guide to the ¥300 Tokyo sento coupon for 383 public bathhouses is a cheap way to finish the day.
Food shopping is also a good moment to think about where your money goes. If you’re new to earning points on everyday spending, start with our beginner’s guide to point sites in Japan.
Access and event details
| Event | Tokyo Meat Market Festival 2026 (45th) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sat Oct 17: 10:00–16:00 Sun Oct 18: 10:00–15:00 Last entry 30 minutes before closing |
| Venue | Meat Market, Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market |
| Address | 2-7-19 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075 |
| Access | About 3 minutes on foot from the Konan exit of JR Shinagawa Station (per the press release) |
| Admission | Free |
| Organizer | Tokyo Meat Market Association |
| Co-host | Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
| Sponsors | Kumamoto Prefecture; Kumamoto Beef Consumption Promotion Council |
| Supporters | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Japan Meat Council; Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation |
| Inquiries | Festival executive committee contact form |
The festival also has an official LINE account (@tokyo-meat). New friends can receive a LINE sticker featuring the official character while supplies last, and the account shares vendor and event updates.
Details can change, so check the official festival page and the organizer’s press release (Japanese) shortly before your visit.
FAQ
- Q. Is the Tokyo Meat Market Festival free to enter?
- Yes. Admission is free on both days. Entry closes 30 minutes before the end of each day.
- Q. How do I get the free wagyu tasting?
- Tasting tickets are handed out first come, first served at each tasting counter, in limited numbers. Only people holding a ticket can join the tasting.
- Q. What time does the free tasting start?
- On both days, the Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu shabu-shabu and Kumamoto pork shabu-shabu start at 10:00, and the motsu nikomi starts at 13:00.
- Q. Should I bring a cooler bag?
- Free ice packs are given to anyone who makes a purchase, and cooler bags are sold at the venue. Bringing your own insulated bag makes it easier to carry meat home.
- Q. Is there a parking discount?
- You get one scratch card for every 3,000 yen spent in the market. A scratch card can be exchanged at Konan Fureai Hiroba for a free 1-hour ticket for the Shinagawa Intercity underground car park, one per car. Scratch cards are limited.
- Q. What is the nearest station?
- JR Shinagawa Station. The press release says the market is about a 3-minute walk from the Konan exit.
Sources: Tokyo Meat Market Association official website and press release (published 11 September 2026). Photos show the previous year’s festival.