Sun, Nov 1 – Tue, Nov 3
Umitakasai 海鷹祭
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Students who will one day run Japan's fish markets and research vessels put on a festival that smells of the sea: a whole tuna cut up on stage, seafood rice bowls from the stalls, and tanks of fish in the classrooms. It is ten minutes on foot from Shinagawa Station, which makes it one of the easiest detours on this calendar.
- Dates
- Sun, Nov 1 – Tue, Nov 3
- Hours
- 9:00-17:00 (Nov 3 until 13:00)
- Where
- Shinagawa Campus
Open in Google Maps ↗ - Nearest station
- Shinagawa Station (JR, Keikyu), about 10 min
- Entry
- Free
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Payment
- Bring cash: most stalls don't take cards
- English
- Mostly Japanese (Google Lens helps)
- Official site
- Visit official site ↗
Last updated: Sep 15, 2026
What it is
- The 67th festival of Japan's ocean university, the old Tokyo University of Fisheries.
- The tuna cutting show is the signature event; its time is posted on the festival's X and Instagram.
- Seafood stalls, aquarium-club exhibits and fishing games for children.
Highlights
- The last day, Culture Day, closes at 13:00, so go on Sunday or Monday.
- Tennozu Isle Station is 15 minutes the other way, so you can leave along the canal.
Best time to go
General tips that apply to most Tokyo university festivals.
- Right at opening, usually 10:00: stalls are ready and lines are short.
- On multi-day festivals, weekdays are the quietest days.
- Saturday early afternoon is the busiest time almost everywhere.
- Eat before 11:30 or after 13:30 to skip the lunch rush.
Suggested plan
- 10:00 Pick up a map at the gate. Do the popular indoor events (exhibitions, workshops, cafes) before the lines grow.
- 11:30 Lunch from the food stalls, ahead of the noon rush.
- 13:00 Watch bands, dance and theatre on the outdoor stages.
- 15:00 Walk the campus sights, then sort your trash at an eco-station on the way out.
Rules at the festival
- Ask before photographing students up close.
- No photos where signs say so.
- Sort trash at the eco-stations: burnable, plastic, cans, PET bottles.
- Don't bring your own alcohol. Many festivals ban it; where it is sold, buy only from the official stalls.
- No smoking and no drones on campus.
- Only enter rooms that are part of the festival.
Point-and-show phrases
No Japanese needed. Show this screen to a student at the stall.
| これください | This one, please Kore kudasai |
| いくらですか？ | How much is it? Ikura desu ka? |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか？ | May I take a photo? Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? |
| カードは使えますか？ | Can I pay by card? Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? |
| ゴミ箱はどこですか？ | Where is the trash bin? Gomibako wa doko desu ka? |
| 入口はどこですか？ | Where is the entrance? Iriguchi wa doko desu ka? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Where is the restroom? Toire wa doko desu ka? |
| おいしい！ | Delicious! Oishii! |
| ありがとうございます | Thank you Arigatou gozaimasu |
Cash & ATMs
Most 7-Eleven stores have ATMs that accept foreign cards, and many are open 24 hours.
Stay & tours
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