A cultural heritage event in Otaru’s Oshoro area that keeps the songs and customs of herring fishing alive
Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Oshoro area in western Otaru City
- Area
- Hokkaido・Otaru City(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
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An intangible folk cultural property that preserves the songs, ceremonies, and banquet customs associated with herring fishing in Otaru and Oshoro.
About Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event
The Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event is an intangible folk cultural property that preserves the culture and customs associated with herring fishing in the Oshoro area of western Otaru City.
Songs, ceremonies, banquets, and other customs pass on the fishing practices of an area once known as a prime herring fishing ground.
It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Otaru City and passed down through the activities of a preservation group.
Source: 忍路鰊漁撈の行事 | 小樽市
Festival highlights
A highlight is the 4 work songs associated with herring-fishing tasks.
These include a song for rowing between the offshore nets and shore, a song for hauling in nets, the Okinage Ondo for scooping up herring, and the Kohataki Ondo for removing herring roe.
The event also includes elements such as a ceremonial procession by sea, net-lowering, and banquets featuring Roka-arai.
A cultural heritage event in Otaru’s Oshoro area that keeps the songs and customs of herring fishing alive
What to expect
The event brings together songs that supported herring-fishing work and customs observed at key moments in the fishing season.
The songs are associated with tasks such as rowing a boat, hauling in nets, scooping up fish, and removing herring roe, offering a glimpse into life at the fishing grounds.
The ceremonies include a procession by sea, and the banquet customs also help bring scenes from the former herring fishery into the present.
How to take part
There are opportunities for the public to see performances of these traditions, but the requirements for taking part in the event itself have not been confirmed.
Otaru City’s intangible cultural properties are regularly presented by preservation associations, generally about once a year for the public.
For information about opportunities to observe the event and what they involve, visitors are directed to contact the Lifelong Learning Division of the Otaru City Board of Education.
Those wishing to observe the event are advised to contact the Lifelong Learning Division, Education Department, Otaru City Board of Education, to ask whether and when it will be open to visitors.
It is a good idea to check the preservation association’s activities and plans for regular public presentations before visiting.
The application process for general visitors and the check-in procedure on the day need to be confirmed for each event.
Location and access
- Venue
Oshoro area in western Otaru City
- Address
Oshoro (Oshoro) area in western Otaru City
Address Oshoro (Oshoro) area in western Otaru City
Tips for your visit
As the timing and content of public presentations vary depending on the preservation group’s activities, be sure to check with the Lifelong Learning Division before visiting.
The event consists of multiple elements, including songs, a procession by sea, and banquets, so the content presented may not be the same each time.
Please be considerate of the local community’s efforts to pass on this cultural property, and follow the guidance provided for visitors.
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 / Otaru City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
小樽オルゴール堂
北海道小樽市にあるオルゴールショップ · Museums
写真：松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
小樽市総合博物館
北海道小樽市にある博物館
写真：Twilight2640 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
日和山灯台
北海道小樽市にある灯台
Origins and History of Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event
Oshoro has been known as a prime herring fishing ground since the Edo period, and work songs and customs marking key moments in the fishing season developed there.
The Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event preserves a range of customs associated with herring fishing, including not only songs but also processions by sea and banquets.
It was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Otaru City in Showa 55October 8, and the Oshoro Herring Fishing Grounds Association is now responsible for preservation activities.
Official information
Otaru City’s official page provides information on the cultural property designation, elements, preservation group, and contact details for the Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event.
The contact is the Lifelong Learning Division, Education Department, Otaru City Board of Education.
Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event at a Glance
The Otaru Oshoro Herring Fishing Traditions event is an intangible folk cultural property that conveys the culture of the Oshoro area, whose history has been closely tied to herring fishing since the Edo period, through songs, ceremonies, and banquet customs.
A major highlight is the work songs associated with fishing tasks, including songs for rowing boats and hauling in nets, as well as the Okinage Ondo.
We recommend checking with the Lifelong Learning Division about when the event is open to visitors and how to observe it.
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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