September in Hokkaido is packed with events to celebrate the harvest season! From festivals featuring fresh seafood and local delicacies to spectacular fireworks lighting up the autumn sky, we've carefully selected 10 must-see events to fully enjoy Hokkaido. Why not immerse yourself in the beginning of autumn in Hokkaido?

This is the quintessential autumn food event in Hokkaido. Spanning about 1 km from Odori Park 4-chome to 11-chome in central Sapporo, the venue brings together over 300 booths from all over Hokkaido, offering seasonal ingredients and local delicacies. Each area has a different theme, including the "Sapporo Odori Hokkaido Market," where you can enjoy local flavors and specialty products from various parts of the island. It's a place where gourmet food, sweets, and drinks from all over Hokkaido come together.

Set in Sapporo's Moerenuma Park, this fireworks festival is produced by Japan's top pyrotechnicians. The breathtaking 60-minute program features a non-stop display of fireworks like starmines and large-shell fireworks synchronized with light and sound. The spectacular show, with 3D effects and choreography set to famous music, is truly worthy of the name "art." Food and drinks will also be available for purchase at the venue.

A classic autumn event in Nemuro that attracts people from all over Japan to taste seasonal sanma (Pacific saury). The highlight of the festival is the "Sanma Ganpeki Robata Corner," where you can charcoal-grill and eat fresh Nemuro saury on the spot. You'll also find saury dishes handmade by local "hama no kasan" (fishermen's wives), as well as Nemuro's specialty products and other seafood like crab and oysters for sale. In previous years, events like a saury-catching contest and stage shows have also been held.

A major Kushiro event centered around food and fireworks. As its name suggests, combining "don" (the sound of fireworks) and "paku" (the sound of eating), the festival is packed with beautiful fireworks and delicious food. The fireworks display, featuring one of Hokkaido's largest sanshaku-dama (36-inch shell) fireworks, is incredibly powerful. In addition to the "Donpaku Yatai" food stalls, there are also food-related events like the "Agriculture and Rural Fair in KUSHIRO," which offers samples of Konsen milk, sales of agricultural and livestock products, and a simulated milking experience corner.

This inaugural event is one of Japan's largest fireworks displays. In addition to the spectacular 35,000 fireworks that will light up the night sky, there will be plenty of content for both adults and children to enjoy, including live music from popular artists, comedy stages, a food area with about 80 vendors from Hokkaido and beyond, and the "Manten Amusement Park" with hands-on attractions. The venue, "Danpara Park," offers a prime location with a panoramic view of Muroran Port, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful night scenery along with the fireworks.

A traditional festival that colors the autumn in Iwamizawa. The dynamic mochi-pounding using one of the world's largest mortars—2.2 meters in diameter and weighing 5.5 tons—is a spectacular sight. The freshly pounded mochi is served to visitors as oshiruko (sweet red bean soup) in limited quantities. Other events include mochi-maki (mochi throwing), mochi-pounding experiences, wadaiko (Japanese drum) performances, and dance performances. The venue will be lined with food stalls and food trucks, where you can enjoy local gourmet food.

An event where you can fully savor bluefin tuna from Matsumae. There are plenty of tuna-related events unique to Matsumae, including the popular fresh bluefin tuna sale, a thrilling tuna carving show held right before your eyes, and a super-spicy tuna bowl speed-eating contest. You can also enjoy tuna-based dishes and specialty products from Matsumae Town at the venue, as well as stage performances like dancing and taiko drumming.

A major event representing autumn in Asahikawa, bringing together the food of northern Hokkaido. During the event, the area from JR Asahikawa Station to Heiwa Dori Kaimono Koen turns into a "feast market." Specialty products and gourmet foods from all over northern Hokkaido will line the venue.

A famous festival in Shintoku, also known as "Japan's number one soba town." At the "Soba Yatai Mura" (Soba Stall Village) in the venue, famous local restaurants and soba-making groups will showcase their skills, allowing you to compare each shop's prized "4-tate soba"—freshly harvested, freshly milled, freshly made, and freshly boiled. A variety of unique menus will be available, featuring toppings like tempura, eel, and cheese. In addition to soba, you can also enjoy local products like "Shintoku Jidori (local chicken) charcoal grill" and "grilled log-grown shiitake mushrooms," as well as desserts like soba crepes and soft-serve ice cream.

This autumn in Fukagawa, a hands-on festival will be held that will captivate everyone from children to adults. There's a wide variety of indoor and outdoor experience programs to enjoy, from creative workshops like Shippo-yaki (cloisonné enamel), bracelet making, and soap carving, to bonfire/wood-chopping experiences, excavation experiences, and climbing in the gymnasium. Additionally, there will be food trucks selling pizza and crepes, as well as displays of police cars and fire trucks.

※All information is current as of the article's publication in August 2025.
※All information is subject to change. Please check official websites for the latest details.