Are you familiar with the Bihoro Tourist Wagyu Beef Festival?

The Wagyu Beef Festival, the largest food event in the Okhotsk region during the height of summer, attracts large crowds every year.
Many yakiniku fans from all over Hokkaido visit this restaurant because it serves Bihoro Wagyu, a brand of beef provided by Tamura Meat Shop, which also has stores in Sapporo and Tokyo.

This festival, held in mid-July at Abashiri Riverbank Park, features numerous grills where people can enjoy barbecuing in their own way.
This time, we'll introduce the Bihoro Tourist Wagyu Beef Festival, where the juicy aroma fills the air!

<Table of Contents>
1. What is the Bihoro Tourist Wagyu Beef Festival?
2. Enjoy delicious Bihoro-produced Wagyu beef!
3. Once you're ready, have fun however you like!
4. In addition to the yakiniku (grilled meat), there will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes.
5. There are also various other attractions.
6. Useful items to bring to the Bihoro Tourist Wagyu Beef Festival!

Started in 1979 and now in its 38th year, this festival is held annually to allow more people to enjoy "Bihoro Wagyu," the brand of beef from Bihoro Town.

In this region, where barbecue culture is deeply rooted, everyone enjoys barbecue and the festival in their own way.

There are a whopping 350 grills for cooking meat, so you can enjoy a barbecue wherever you like.
You can enjoy a relaxing day of leisure under the refreshing summer sky, savoring Wagyu beef, watching stage shows, and even going horseback riding.

Once you have your ticket (there are same-day tickets and advance tickets, see below), head to the meat exchange counter.
At the exchange counter, you can choose between "Tamura Meat Shop" and "Miso Meat Shop." Since this was my first time, I tried both.

It's the same Bihoro Wagyu beef, but it seems they've made some improvements to the way it's cut and the sauce.

We returned to our grill and immediately started barbecuing.
The stoves are set up at equal intervals, but you can move them around to adjust the number of people in your party.

Also, even if it's your first time participating, there are about 150 staff members on site at all times to assist you, so if you don't know how to do something, don't have charcoal, or the heat is too weak, they can help you right away.

At the end of the festival, there will be a fun raffle with fantastic prizes.
That product is getting rave reviews for being incredibly luxurious.

Everyone stopped eating their yakiniku (grilled meat) and listened intently, their hearts pounding, wondering if their number would be called, whether it was for a trip that included accommodation at one of Japan's leading amusement parks or for watching on television.

You will need your ticket stub to participate in this raffle.
You'll get your ticket stub back when you exchange it for meat, so be sure to keep it safe. It's a popular event that marks the end of the festival.

Besides yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), there are also plenty of attractions that children are sure to love.

What particularly caught my eye was this "horse riding experience."
There are many festivals throughout Hokkaido, but it's rare to find one where you can experience riding a horse.

For around 100 yen, visitors could feed carrots to the horses that were taking a break, making it a popular attraction for families.
In addition, there were plenty of attractions that the whole family could enjoy, such as a bouncy tank and a space where you could interact with mascots.

If you want to be comfortable at the venue, it's best to bring your own.
A mat, chair, or cooler bag are very useful for relaxing and keeping the meat fresh.

Among the more experienced campers, many brought tarps to create shade, or used pop-up tents that were easy for even women to handle, creating a space for luggage or for children to relax.

Additionally, it's a good idea to bring extra barbecue sauce, plates, and chopsticks so you don't run out of things when you eat.
Also, there are no trash cans at the venue, so please bring your own trash bags to show good manners!

Final thoughts

In the Okhotsk area, the equation "festival = yakiniku (Japanese barbecue)" is deeply ingrained.

Bihoro itself doesn't have a coastline, but the nearby towns are famous for their seafood, so why not pick some up on your way to the festival and grill and enjoy it?
Enjoying delicious meat and seafood under a wide-open sky sounds like a truly luxurious experience!

For readers who are interested, please be sure to check it out next year!

[Bihoro Tourism Wagyu Beef Festival]
Date: Held around mid-July
Location: Abashiri Riverbank Park (near Midori Bridge), Shono Embankment, Bihoro Town
Time: 9: 30 to 14: 00
Advance tickets: 1,500 yen Same-day tickets: 1,700 yen
One ticket entitles you to 230g of meat per pack.
*The number is limited.
*You can choose between meat from Tamura Meat Shop or Miso Meat Shop.
Parking: Free (700 spaces available)
BBQ grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 350 units available.

[Contact Office]
Bihoro Tourism and Local Products Association, "Bihoro Tourism Wagyu Beef Festival Executive Committee"
3-97-2 Shinmachi, Bihoro-cho
TEL.0152-73-2211・FAX.0152-77-3005
URL:http://www.bihoro-k.com/html/event.html

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