A Sai Village festival celebrating the seasonal flavors of the Tsugaru Strait with sea urchin rice bowls
Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival
The 2026 edition of Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/06/21Ended
- Season / frequency
- June (mid-June)
- Location
- Tsugaru Strait Culture Center “Arusas”
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Sai Village(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)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
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation
- Participation fee
- 2,500 yen per sea urchin rice bowl
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
A local event in June in Sai Village, centered on sea urchin rice bowls made with purple sea urchins from the Tsugaru Strait, with sea urchins in their shells and fresh fish also on sale.
About Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival
The Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival is a local event held in Sai Village in June.
The festival has continued since Heisei 18, offering sea urchin rice bowls made with purple sea urchins harvested in the Tsugaru Strait.
Sea urchins in their shells and fresh fish are also sold, making this an event that showcases Sai Village’s bounty from the sea through both food and shopping.
Festival highlights
The star of the event is sea urchin rice bowls generously topped with purple sea urchins harvested in the Tsugaru Strait.
Enjoy the refined sweetness and umami unique to seasonal sea urchin, alongside sea urchins in their shells, fresh fish, and processed seafood products.
Another highlight of the festival is the display and sale of local specialties from Shimokita and elsewhere in Aomori Prefecture.
A Sai Village festival celebrating the seasonal flavors of the Tsugaru Strait with sea urchin rice bowls
What to expect
At the venue, you can enjoy sea urchin rice bowls made with seasonal purple sea urchin and buy sea urchins in their shells, fresh fish, and processed seafood products.
Local specialties are also displayed and sold, offering a taste of the food bounty of Sai Village and Shimokita.
According to the 2026 information, food trucks and other vendors were also scheduled to attend, in addition to the sea urchin rice bowls.
How to take part
In 2026, sea urchin rice bowls were served in limited quantities of 1,000, and visitors bought meal tickets to enjoy them.
Live sea urchins in their shells, fresh fish, and processed seafood products were also on sale.
2026年は食券販売が8:00から行われ、うに丼は先着1,000食限定でした。
The sea urchin rice bowls were priced at 2,500 yen per serving.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tsugaru Strait Culture Center “Arusas” / 112 Osai, Sai, Sai Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
- Train and bus
From Mutsu Bus Terminal, take a Shimokita Kotsu bus bound for Sai and get off at Osai; it is about a 1-minute walk.
- By car
About 1 hour 30 minutes from JR Shimokita Station
- Parking
Yes
Address 112 Osai, Sai, Sai Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
Dates and season
- Event has ended
2026/06/21
- Season
June (mid-June)
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 Aomori Prefecture / Sai Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, the sea urchin rice bowls were limited to 1,000 servings, and visitors were advised they might sell out early.
Details may change depending on the weather and fishing conditions.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions listed include the Tsugaru Strait Culture Center Arusas, Sai Village Strait Museum, Arusas Festival, and the birthplace of Gontaro Mikami.
These are all listed as spots near the venue for the Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival.
Origins and History of Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival
The Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival has been held as a local event since Heisei 18, in June.
The festival showcases the region’s food culture, with Sai Village’s specialty purple sea urchin at its heart, through sea urchin rice bowls and the display and sale of processed seafood products and local specialties.
No other origins or historical developments are given.
Official information
The Sai Village Tourism Association is the contact.
The official information lists basic details such as the venue, address, transportation, and parking.
Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival at a Glance
The Sai Village Sea Urchin Festival is a local event where visitors can enjoy seasonal purple sea urchin in June.
In addition to sea urchin rice bowls, sea urchins in their shells, fresh fish, processed seafood products, and local specialties are also sold.
In 2026, the event was held for 1 day, with 1,000 servings available. Since the information about meal-ticket sales times and event hours differs, be sure to check which details apply.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/12
