Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• うにうにフェスティバル
• Uni-Uni Festival (sea urchins)

History

The うにうにフェスティバル is a summer gourmet event held on 利尻島（りしりとう, Rishiri-tō）, in the town of 利尻富士町（りしりふじちょう, Rishiri Fuji-chō）. The idea is simple: spotlight ウニ（uni, sea urchin), one of the island’s signature products, by making it easy to enjoy through tastings and “matsuri-style” dishes (stalls, activities, stage).

The festival is traditionally set on 11 August, the national holiday 山の日（やまのひ, yama no hi, “Mountain Day”）, a period when the island welcomes many visitors. In terms of organization, public information points to an 実行委員会（じっこういいんかい, jikkō iinkai, organizing committee） linked with the 利尻富士町商工会（りしりふじちょう しょうこうかい, Rishiri Fuji-chō Shōkōkai, chamber of commerce & industry).

Event location and date

• Location : 利尻富士町総合交流促進施設「りぷら」特設会場（駐車場）（りしりふじちょう そうごうこうりゅうそくしんしせつ りぷら, Sōgō Kōryū Sokushin Shisetsu “Ripura”）（雨天時はりぷら内（うてんじは りぷらない, uten-ji wa ripura-nai））.
• Address : 〒097-0101 北海道利尻郡利尻富士町鴛泊栄町119-1（119-1 Oshidomari Sakae-machi, Rishiri Fuji-chō, Rishiri-gun, Hokkaidō 097-0101, Japan）.
• Access : from 鴛泊港フェリーターミナル（おしどまりこう, Oshidomari-kō Ferry Terminal）, about 5 min by car or 15 min on foot. Free parking is indicated on event listings.
• Date : in principle 11 August (daytime, from midday to evening depending on the edition).

How it unfolds

The festival takes place over one day, with a very “local celebration” vibe: people come to eat, enjoy the stalls, and watch the activities. The star is sea urchin (ウニ（uni）), offered in simple, crowd-pleasing specialties, notably 焼きウニ（やきうに, yaki uni, grilled sea urchin） and ミニうに丼（みにうにどん, mini uni-don, mini sea-urchin rice bowl）.

Program-wise, recurring descriptions mention a lineup of stalls (drinks, seafood, snacks), a stage (activities, performances), and “competition” highlights. These include sea-urchin-themed contests such as ウニ早食い大会（うにはやぐいたいかい, uni hayagui taikai, speed-eating contest), and family-friendly activities like 小学生ウニむき大会（しょうがくせい うにむきたいかい, shōgakusei uni-muki taikai, kids’ sea-urchin opening contest). A カラオケ大会（からおけたいかい, karaoke taikai） is also often mentioned as a popular moment.

The setup is convenient: the event is announced on the りぷら（Ripura） parking lot, and in case of rain it moves indoors (雨天時はりぷら内（uten-ji wa ripura-nai）), which helps secure the experience.

Practical tips

Photos

For “island-feel” shots, aim for late afternoon: the light is softer and you can capture the stall atmosphere. For a tasty look, go for close-ups of 焼きウニ（yaki uni） and うに丼（うにどん, uni-don）. Indoors (rain), consider raising ISO a bit and stabilizing (or use a fast lens).

Weather

Even in August, on an island, wind and mist can roll in quickly. Bring a windproof layer and comfortable shoes for standing around, especially if you alternate between stalls and the stage.

Transport

Access often goes via 稚内（わっかない, Wakkanai） and then the ferry to 利尻（りしり, Rishiri）. If you’re coming just for the day, plan around ferry schedules and the 11 August crowds. Once you’re in 鴛泊（おしどまり, Oshidomari）, the りぷら（Ripura） site is close to the terminal.

Visitor tips

Arrive early if you want to maximize your chances at the most in-demand stalls (sea-urchin dishes). If you’re unsure, start with a small portion like ミニうに丼（mini uni-don）, then add 焼きウニ（yaki uni）. Useful phrase on site: “おすすめは何ですか？（おすすめはなんですか, osusume wa nan desu ka?）” (What do you recommend?).

What to bring

Cash, a windbreaker, a power bank, wipes (street food), and a bag to protect purchases/souvenirs in case of drizzle.

Sources & Références

• 利尻富士町｜イベント（公式）

  Official “イベント” page from the town hall, notably listing “8月11日 うにうにフェスティバル” and the local context.

• HOKKAIDO LIFE｜うにうにフェスティバル2024（8/11, 12:00–20:00）

  Recap article with date, times, and examples of activities (contests, stalls).

• Visit Hokkaido｜観光素材：うにうにフェスティバル

  Practical listing with the full address (〒097-0101, りぷら駐車場, indoors in rain) and contact.

• ぐうたび北海道｜うにうにフェスティバル

  Event listing (access from 鴛泊港, contact, location details, and mention of a 2025 “予定” date).