A summer shopping-district festival that fills Sapporo’s streets with mikoshi and events
Yoban-gai Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Yoban-gai Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/05Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually from late June to early July / Every year
- Location
- Sapporo Hokoten, Yoban-gai venue
- Area
- Hokkaido・Sapporo 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
- Highlights and activities
- Participation fee
- Some events are free and others are paid. The food court with food trucks and other vendors in the Minami 3-jo area is paid.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer shopping-district festival on Ekimae-dori in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, featuring processions, stage events and traditional festival stalls.
About Yoban-gai Matsuri
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: K. Takeda File:四番街まつり.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Yoban-gai Matsuri is a summer shopping-district festival centered on Yoban-gai, the shopping district on Ekimae-dori in Chuo Ward, Sapporo.
The pedestrian zone from Minami Odori to the Susukino intersection hosts stage events, stalls, mikoshi processions and more.
The venue area may also include Sapporo Ichibangai.
The festival brings together efforts to enliven the shopping district and opportunities to enjoy a variety of events in the heart of the city.
Source: 四番街まつり - Wikipedia / 四番街まつり開催のお知らせ – 四番街
Festival highlights
A major highlight is the “Yoban-gai Hanjo Mikoshi,” carried along the street by participants wearing .
At the stage near the scramble crossing, you can enjoy music, performances and other events.
Stalls offer classic festival games such as senbon-tsuri (a lucky-dip fishing game), smart ball and yo-yo fishing.
In 2026, a paid food court with food trucks and other vendors was also set up in the Minami 3-jo area.
A summer shopping-district festival that fills Sapporo’s streets with mikoshi and events
What to expect
On festival day, the roadway on Ekimae-dori is opened to pedestrians, with events taking place at various locations.
You can watch music and shows on stage, while the street hosts amateur wrestling matches, street performances and more.
Enjoy traditional festival games and snacks at the stalls, and watch happi-clad mikoshi bearers make their way along the street.
In 2026, the festival was scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with traffic restrictions planned from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How to take part
At the festival venue, visitors can enjoy watching stage performances, the mikoshi procession, pro wrestling, and food stalls.
The festival stalls offer games such as thousand-string fishing and yo-yo fishing. Past information also mentioned bread-making workshops.
However, whether people can participate as mikoshi bearers or stage performers depends on the recruitment conditions for each festival.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sapporo Hokoten, Yoban-gai venue.
The Ekimae-dori stretch from Minami Odori to the Susukino intersection, covering the Yoban-gai shopping district in Chuo Ward, Sapporo.
- By car
On July 5, 2026, traffic restrictions for Sapporo Hokoten were scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Take care when driving during the road-closure hours.
Address Ekimae-dori, from Minami Odori to the Susukino intersection (Chuo Ward, Sapporo)
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Yoban-gai Matsuri was scheduled to take place on July 5 (Sunday), from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The venue was set along Ekimae-dori, from Minami Odori to the Susukino intersection, and traffic restrictions for Sapporo Hokoten were planned from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Yoban-gai Matsuri is usually held from late June to early July, but the dates and times vary from year to 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 Hokkaido / Sapporo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue becomes a pedestrian-only area on Ekimae-dori, and traffic restrictions were scheduled for 2026 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As the mikoshi procession and street performances take place, please be considerate of passersby and other visitors while watching.
Some food stalls and offerings at the food court in the Minami 3-jo area are paid.
The hours, venue activities, and traffic restrictions may change from one festival to another.
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Photo source ·Official information
The 2026 festival information was announced on the official website of the Sapporo Yoban-gai Shopping District Promotion Association.
Information is provided on the event dates and times, venue, traffic restrictions, mikoshi procession, stalls, wrestling and food court.
Yoban-gai Matsuri at a Glance
Yoban-gai Matsuri is a summer shopping-district festival held on Ekimae-dori in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, which is turned into a pedestrian zone.
Enjoy a variety of street events, including mikoshi processions, stage performances, wrestling and traditional festival stalls.
In 2026, it was held on July 5, and paid food trucks and other vendors also set up in the Minami 3-jo area.
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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