An autumn day savoring and enjoying Betsukai’s historic salmon
Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Event status
- Cancelled
- Season / frequency
- The second Sunday of October every year / This autumn festival was previously described as an annual event, but it has been canceled in 2026 and will remain suspended for the time being in subsequent years.
- Location
- Special venue at Betsukai Fishing Port
- Area
- Hokkaido・Betsukai Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An autumn festival in Betsukai Town centered on Nishibetsu salmon, native to the Nishibetsu River, with charcoal grilling, salmon dishes, and participatory activities.
About Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival
The Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival is an autumn event centered on “Nishibetsu salmon,” which comes from the Nishibetsu River flowing through Betsukai Town.
Enjoy salmon with a history of being presented to the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period, grilled over charcoal, in hot pot, and in chanchan-yaki.
This festival offers a chance to enjoy the flavor and history of Nishibetsu salmon, a local resource of Betsukai Town, through food and events.
Festival highlights
Highlights include skewers of thick-cut salted salmon grilled over charcoal, hearty akiaji hot pot, and salmon chanchan-yaki.
Activities featured include “Akiaji Tsukamidori,” in which participants chase salmon in a tank, and the Salmon Derby, where they guess which salmon will swim the fastest.
A key feature is the combination of salmon dishes and activities that families can take part in.
An autumn day savoring and enjoying Betsukai’s historic salmon
What to expect
The venue has featured Nishibetsu salmon for sale and salmon dishes, with salted and fresh salmon available for purchase.
Past participatory activities have included a salmon-catching contest and a salmon-grabbing event where participants could take home the salmon they caught.
The program combines food, hands-on activities, and entertainment, including a popular music show on stage.
How to take part
This festival is open to the general public and features salmon dishes for purchase and dining, along with hands-on activities such as a salmon fishing competition, a chum salmon catching contest, and a women’s butt sumo tournament.
The activities and their conditions may vary by year.
Please note that the 2026 event has been announced as canceled.
The event usually offers visitors the chance to enjoy food at the venue, buy salmon, and take part in activities held on the day.
Check the information for the relevant year for details on how to take part in activities such as the salmon fishing competition and catching contest, as well as registration times, capacity, and fees.
The 2026 event has been canceled, so registration will not be available.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Betsukai Fishing Port Special Venue.
The address is 27 Honbetsukai, Betsukai, Notsuke District, Hokkaido.
- By car
It is about 45 minutes from Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport.
- Parking
500 spaces, free of charge.
Carpooling is recommended, as congestion is expected.
Please note that the 2026 event is canceled.
Address 27 Honbetsukai, Betsukai Town, Notsuke District, Hokkaido
Dates and season
The 2026 Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival has been announced as canceled.
Reasons given for the cancellation include forecasts that this year’s salmon run will be smaller than the previous year’s and that an early recovery in chum salmon stocks is not expected.
A decision has been announced to keep the festival suspended for the time being in subsequent years.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hokkaido / Betsukai Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
When the festival is held as usual, it features dishes and products made with autumn salmon, so plan your travel with crowds in mind.
If you travel by car, the parking lot may be busy, so carpooling is recommended.
Dates, activities, and venue conditions may change from year to year, so check the latest status before setting out.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include the Betsukai sightseeing boat, Lake Furen, the Notsuke Peninsula, Notsuke Peninsula Wildflower Garden, and Todowara.
Nearby hot springs include Betsukai Fureai Onsen and Odaito Onsen.
These are options to consider alongside the festival for exploring Betsukai Town’s coast, wetlands, pristine nature, and hot springs.
Origins and History of Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival
Nishibetsu salmon, the festival’s centerpiece, is described as a branded salmon with a history of being presented to the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period.
According to the 2023 announcement, the 60th festival was held for the first time in 5 years, showing that the event has been passed down in the community.
In 2026, the festival was canceled and suspended for the time being due to factors affecting salmon stocks and set-net fisheries.
Official information
The cancellation of the 2026 festival was announced in a notice from Betsukai Town.
The Betsukai Tourism Association has also announced the cancellation for fiscal year 2026 and the suspension for the time being in subsequent years.
The regular visitor information lists the Betsukai Tourism Association’s official website as a related link.
Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival at a Glance
The Nishibetsu River Akiaji Festival is an autumn event in Betsukai Town where visitors can enjoy Nishibetsu salmon, with a history of being presented to the shogunate during the Edo period, grilled on skewers over charcoal, in hot pot, and in chanchan-yaki.
Participatory activities such as salmon fishing and a salmon-catching event are among the highlights, but the 2026 festival was canceled due to factors including salmon stocks.
The festival is scheduled to remain suspended for the time being in subsequent years.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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