Memanbetsu Tourism Summer Festival

Festival highlights

The highlight of the day is the dragon boat races, where teams paddle across the lake in unison.

The boats’ movements, accompanied by cheers and splashes, make the intense competition on the lake memorable.

At night, starmines and fireworks over the water light up both the night sky and the lake, creating a striking view.

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A summer festival in Ozora Town, with dragon boat races and fireworks illuminating Lake Abashiri

What to expect

In 2026, the day began with dragon boat races in the morning, followed by a shijimi clam-catching event, an awards ceremony and mochi toss, Yosakoi performances, a candy toss for children, and stage events. Fireworks over the water were held at night.

You can watch races and stage events along the lakeside and enjoy the local festivities in sequence.

The fireworks were announced as going ahead in light rain.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the races, performances, stage events, and fireworks over the water at Lake Abashiri, Memanbetsu Lakeside.

A shijimi clam-catching event and a candy toss for children are also planned at the venue.

If you wish to compete in the dragon boat races, you must apply as a team, separately from general festival attendance.

For the 2026 dragon boat race, teams entered with 10 members: 1 helmsman, 1 drummer, and 8 paddlers.

Teams were required to include at least 2 women, and participants aged 18 or younger (including high school students) could not take part.

Registration for 2026 has closed, and the entry fee is listed as ¥5,000 per team.

Location and access

Venue and address

Lake Abashiri, Memanbetsu Lakeside (1-1, Memanbetsu Lakeside, Lake Abashiri, Ozora Town, Abashiri District, Hokkaido)

Train and bus

About a 3-minute walk from JR Memanbetsu Station.

From JR Abashiri Station, take an Abashiri Bus bound for Memanbetsu Airport for 20 minutes, get off at Memanbetsu Jujigai, then walk about 5 minutes.

By car

It is about 6 km, or approximately 10 minutes, from Memanbetsu Airport in Hokkaido via Route 39.

In 2026, for the fireworks, the road from Route 39 to the lakeside area was closed to vehicle traffic from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Parking

There are about 600 free parking spaces.

In 2026, the parking lot within the lakeside park was unavailable, and a temporary lot across from Hotel Sansui and other options were listed.

Address 1-1, Memanbetsu Lakeside, Lake Abashiri, Ozora Town, Abashiri District, Hokkaido

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the festival was held on August 1 (Saturday). The listed schedule had the dragon boat races starting at 8:30 a.m. and the fireworks over the water at 8 p.m.

The fireworks over the water are scheduled to go ahead in light rain and be canceled in severe weather.

The event dates have passed. Please check separately announced information for future dates.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

As the parking lot in the lakeside park will serve as a vendor area in 2026, we were informed it will be unavailable starting July 30.

If arriving by car, check the location of the temporary parking lot and plan to travel early, taking traffic restrictions before and after the fireworks into account.

Personal watercraft, jet skis, drones, and similar equipment are also prohibited during the event.

Nearby attractions

There are several attractions near the venue, including Memanbetsu Onsen, Lake Abashiri, and Märchen Hill.

Märchen Hill is described as a rolling hillside where 7 larch trees stand between the fields and the sky.

You can plan an itinerary that combines the festival with the natural surroundings of Lake Abashiri and the scenery of Ozora Town.

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Official information

Details about the event, entry requirements for the races, and traffic restrictions around the venue can be found in the “Memanbetsu Tourism Summer Festival” information from the Okhotsk Ozora Tourism Association, an NPO.

The listed contact information is the Okhotsk Ozora Tourism Association, telephone 0152-74-4323.

Memanbetsu Tourism Summer Festival at a Glance

The Memanbetsu Tourism Summer Festival is held at Lake Abashiri, Memanbetsu Lakeside, and is a summer festival centered on dragon boat races and fireworks over the water.

In 2026, races, a shijimi clam-catching event, Yosakoi performances, and stage events were scheduled for one day, with about 3,000 fireworks planned for the evening.

The venue is close to the station, but parking and road restrictions are in effect during the festival, so public transportation or the temporary parking lots are convenient.