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Matsuri Guide

Gastronomic and tourist campaign • Shizuoka (静岡県)

南伊豆町伊勢海老まつり

Minamiizu Ise-ebi Festival

Minamiizu-chō Ise-ebi Matsuri (南伊豆町伊勢海老まつり)

Next date From Monday, October 5, 2026 to Monday, November 30, 2026
Status Date not confirmed
Period Every year in autumn, usually between late September or early October and late November, according to the official announcement of the tourist association
Date type Variable, according to the official schedule published each year
Venue Minamiizu-chō Kankō Kyōkai (南伊豆町観光協会)
Access The event takes place at participating accommodations in Minamiizu; the main information point is the Minamiizu Tourist Association, located at Michi-no-Eki Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana, accessible by bus from Izukyū-Shimoda Station.

Name in Japanese and English

  • 南伊豆町伊勢海老まつり (Minamiizu-chō Ise-ebi Matsuri)
  • Minamiizu Ise-ebi Festival

Summary

南伊豆町伊勢海老まつり (Minamiizu-chō Ise-ebi Matsuri) is a gastronomic and tourist campaign organized in 南伊豆町 (Minamiizu-chō), at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, in 静岡県 (Shizuoka-ken) prefecture. Unlike a shrine matsuri, it is not a one-day event with a procession, but a coordinated stay period with participating accommodations. Visitors book a special plan at a ryokan, minshuku, or partner establishment to enjoy the 伊勢海老 (ise-ebi), the Japanese spiny lobster, a signature product of Minamiizu. The usual period runs in autumn, often from late September or early October to the end of November; the 2026 edition has not yet been officially confirmed and should be checked with the tourist association.

Access and landmarks

Location

The event takes place in the participating accommodations of 南伊豆町 (Minamiizu-chō). The information and organization point is usually the 南伊豆町観光協会 (Minamiizu-chō Kankō Kyōkai), located in the 道の駅 下賀茂温泉 湯の花 (Michi-no-Eki Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana) complex.

Address

〒415-0303 静岡県賀茂郡南伊豆町下賀茂157-1, Michi-no-Eki Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana / Minamiizu-chō Kankō Kyōkai, Shimogamo 157-1, Minamiizu-chō, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka-ken.

Landmarks

The main landmarks are 伊豆急下田駅 (Izukyū-Shimoda-eki), 下賀茂温泉 (Shimogamo Onsen), 道の駅 下賀茂温泉 湯の花 (Michi-no-Eki Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana), the Minamiizu tourist association, and the participating accommodations scattered throughout the town.

Access

From 伊豆急下田駅 (Izukyū-Shimoda-eki), take a Tokai Bus towards Shimogamo or Minamiizu, then walk depending on the stop and destination. By car, access is via the roads of the Izu Peninsula, with parking available at the Michi-no-Eki for tourist information. For the experience itself, access mainly depends on the accommodation booked.

Event program

The Minamiizu-chō Ise-ebi Matsuri takes place over several weeks. Visitors do not come at a specific time to attend a procession: the experience consists of booking a stay at a participating accommodation and enjoying a special meal centered on the 伊勢海老 (ise-ebi). The festival thus functions as an autumn campaign combining gastronomy, lodging, local tourism, and discovery of southern Izu.

The core of the experience is the dinner. Depending on the establishments and editions, the ise-ebi may be offered as 刺身 (sashimi), ボイル (boil), or 鬼殻焼き (onikara-yaki), a grilled preparation in the shell. Some plans highlight one lobster per person, while others offer a broader menu of seafood products.

Some editions add limited benefits, such as accommodation discounts, activity coupons, or special offers reserved for those booking through the association’s website or form. Since these benefits are often limited in number, early reservation is strongly recommended.

The event is part of Minamiizu’s gourmet autumn. Visitors can combine the ise-ebi meal with onsen, beaches, capes, ports, viewpoints in southern Izu, and natural sites around Shimogamo, Yumigahama, or Irozaki.

The particularity of this campaign is its network operation: it is not a single market or plaza festival, but a group of accommodations, producers, restaurateurs, and tourism actors promoting the local ise-ebi during its tasting season.

Practical tips

Photos

The most striking images are of the ise-ebi dishes: close-ups of sashimi, grilled shell, steam, textures, and presentation in inns. Indoors, the light is often warm and dim: a bright lens or a recent phone in night mode can help. To complement, aim for photos of the coast, ports, onsen, and sunsets in southern Izu.

Weather

From October to November in Minamiizu, the climate is generally mild, but the coast can be humid and windy. Early October can still be marked by typhoon remnants or heavy rain depending on the year. Bring a waterproof jacket, windbreaker, light layers, and comfortable shoes for coastal walks.

Transport

The access hub is 伊豆急下田駅 (Izukyū-Shimoda-eki). From the station, buses connect to Shimogamo and some areas of Minamiizu, but frequencies may be limited. A car offers more flexibility to reach beaches, capes, accommodations, and viewpoints, especially if lodging is far from main routes.

Visitor tips

Booking early is essential, especially when the edition offers limited discounts or coupons. Ask the accommodation directly if a special plan is available. Useful phrase: 伊勢海老まつりのプランはありますか (Ise-ebi matsuri no puran wa arimasu ka), “Do you have an Ise-ebi Matsuri package?”.

What to bring

Cash for small local expenses, waterproof jacket, windbreaker, external battery, small bag for purchases and souvenirs, and possibly カイロ (kairo), hand warmers, if traveling in November and sensitive to evening cold.

History

The Minamiizu-chō Ise-ebi Matsuri developed as a gastronomic campaign linked to Minamiizu’s maritime identity. The town is known for its catches of 伊勢海老 (ise-ebi), a luxury product of the Japanese sea, especially appreciated in autumn and winter.

Unlike shrine festivals with mikoshi, this matsuri is based on an accommodation system. The tourist association coordinates information, participating establishments, and, depending on the year, reservation methods. Visitors do not just consume a product: they stay on site and thus contribute to the local tourism economy.

The format has evolved over editions. Some years, the campaign simply highlights inns offering ise-ebi; other years add benefits, discounts, coupons, or limited special offers. The 2025 edition, organized as part of the town’s 70th anniversary, was presented as a special campaign with accommodation discounts under conditions.

The period has also varied. The Minamiizu town hall traditionally indicates a period from September 20 to November 30, while recent editions like 2025 were announced from October 4 to November 30. This justifies treating the date as variable and checking the official announcement each year.

Today, the Minamiizu Ise-ebi Matsuri is mainly an invitation to discover southern Izu through taste: Japanese spiny lobster, ryokan and minshuku, onsen, coastline, beaches, capes, and coastal roads. Its appeal comes from this combination of gastronomy, stay, and territory.

Sources & References

Location

Minamiizu Ise-ebi Festival

📍 Venue:
Minamiizu-chō Kankō Kyōkai (南伊豆町観光協会)
157-1 Shimogamo, Minamiizu, Kamo District, Shizuoka 415-0303, Japon

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Upcoming Schedule
  • To be confirmed Oct 5, 2026 - Nov 30, 2026
  • To be confirmed Oct 5, 2027 - Nov 30, 2027
  • To be confirmed Oct 5, 2028 - Nov 30, 2028