A Tsuchiura food festival celebrating lotus root and regional curries from across Japan
Tsuchiura Curry Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Area
- Ibaraki Prefecture・Tsuchiura City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 10 min–1 h 30 min · limited express)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.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A Tsuchiura food festival featuring curry made with locally grown lotus root and regional curries from across Japan. At the C-1 Grand Prix, visitors vote to choose the No. 1 curry. The festival is held against the backdrop of the food culture associated with welcoming the Graf Zeppelin in 1929.
About Tsuchiura Curry Festival
The Tsuchiura Curry Festival is a food festival where visitors can enjoy curry made with lotus root from Tsuchiura, along with regional curries from across Japan.
Its roots lie in an event in 1929, when curry made with locally grown potatoes and vegetables was served to the crew of the German airship Graf Zeppelin.
The festival is characterized by its emphasis on local production for local consumption and community development that makes use of lotus root, a local specialty of Tsuchiura.
Source: 土浦カレーフェスティバル | 土浦市観光協会
Festival highlights
Highlights include original curry made with lotus root from Tsuchiura and the chance to sample regional curries from across Japan.
The C-1 Grand Prix, where curries compete on taste, is held at the venue, and visitors vote to choose the No. 1 curry.
Some editions have brought together curry shops from Tsuchiura and vendors from across Japan, making it possible to enjoy local flavors and regional specialties in one place.
Source: 土浦カレーフェスティバル – 土浦商工会議所 / 市長記者会見 令和7年11月4日 | 土浦市公式ホームページ
A Tsuchiura food festival celebrating lotus root and regional curries from across Japan
What to expect
At the venue, each vendor serves curry, and visitors can choose and enjoy dishes made with Tsuchiura lotus root as well as regional curries from across Japan.
Some editions have also featured the C-1 Grand Prix, which selects the No. 1 curry, and the Lotus Root Grand Prix, themed around lotus root.
In some years, craft beer booths and dessert food trucks have set up on the auxiliary field, with a variety of activities centered on food.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Inside Kawaguchi Sports Park, 2-12 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Train and bus
A 7-minute walk from the East Exit of Tsuchiura Station on the JR Joban Line.
Event venue 茨城県土浦市 川口運動公園内
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Frequency
Every year
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 Ibaraki Prefecture / Tsuchiura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
In Tsuchiura, attractions include Kasumigaura Comprehensive Park on the shore of Lake Kasumigaura and Kijo Park, developed on the former site of Tsuchiura Castle.
Tsuchiura is a lotus root-producing area, and local restaurants and shops offer dishes and sweets made with lotus root.
For those interested in cycling, Rinrin Square Tsuchiura, directly connected to the station, and Rinrin Port Tsuchiura, on the shore of Lake Kasumigaura, are also listed as related local facilities.
Source: 土浦市 – 観光いばらき
土浦市立博物館
茨城県土浦市にある博物館
Origins and History of Tsuchiura Curry Festival
The festival’s background includes an event in 1929, when the German airship Graf Zeppelin, which flew to Tsuchiura, was welcomed with curry made from local ingredients.
Tsuchiura City began community development through curry in 2004, and the first Tsuchiura Curry Festival was held the following year, in 2005.
After beginning at Kasumigaura Comprehensive Park and later moving to the former site of Koamiya, the festival has been held at Kawaguchi Sports Park since 2006. The C-1 Grand Prix has also been held since 2007.
Source: 土浦カレーフェスティバル - Wikipedia
Official information
For the latest information on the event, venue, fees, parking, and more, check the Tsuchiura Curry Festival page on the official Tsuchiura City website.
Tsuchiura Curry Festival at a Glance
The Tsuchiura Curry Festival celebrates the local food culture of Tsuchiura through lotus root and curry.
Regional curries from across Japan come together, and at the C-1 Grand Prix, visitors vote to decide which curry tastes best.
Against the backdrop of the story of welcoming the Graf Zeppelin in 1929, the festival has been held since 2005.
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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