[Held in 2025] Highlights of the Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival, featuring Matsuba crabs, a representative crab of the Sea of ​​Nihon Sea

• Table of Contents
• What kind of town is Hamasaka? A port town with spectacular views, hot springs, and delicious food, the ultimate crab port in northwestern Hyogo Prefecture
• Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival Schedule
• Matsuba crab dining corner How to enjoy Hamasaka Matsuba crab
• About the Crab Sommelier
• Summary: Enjoy fresh Matsuba crab in Hamasaka

What kind of town is Hamasaka? A port town with spectacular views, hot springs, and delicious food, the ultimate crab port in northwestern Hyogo Prefecture

Located in northwest Shin-onsen Hyogo Prefecture, surrounded by the magnificent nature of San'in Kaigan Kunitachi Park, Shin-Onsen Town Hamasaka is a port town where you can enjoy spectacular views, hot springs, and gourmet food, including the sea, mountains, and Hamasaka Onsen, which boasts Toyotomi hot springs. There are two fishing ports, Hamasaka and Moroyose, where Matsuba crab and firefly squid are landed, and it is known as a "crab town" only known to those in the know, with Matsuba crabs being landed especially from November to March.

Hamasaka Matsuba crab

The fishing grounds are around the Oki Islands and off the coast of Hyogo Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture . The soil there is Toyotomi in nutrients due to the accumulation of volcanic ash from Daisen Daisen. The Toyotomi of underwater creatures that serve as food for the crabs means that the crabs are said to taste good. The uneven seabed also makes a perfect habitat for the crabs, and the crabs caught here are beautiful with long, slender legs and few scars or stains on their shells.

Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival Schedule

●Date and time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 9:00-12:30

(Sales of marine products and local specialties begin at 8:00)

Main contents

・Boiled snow crab in a large pot for immediate sale

・Free crab soup

・Crab sommelier-led Matsuba crab dining corner

・Stage events (Kirin Lion Dance, performances by local schools, etc.)

・Specialty products sales and local gourmet food stalls

Location: Hamasaka Fishing Port Auction Market

This year's Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival will be full of crabs, with free crab soup, a "large pot of boiled snow crabs for sale" hung from a crane, and a Matsuba crab dining corner where the ever-popular "crab sommelier" will prepare the crabs for you to enjoy!!! Please come and join us!

Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival Stage Event Schedule

・8:45~ Opening

・9:00～ Hamasaka High School Kirin Lion Dance Club Performance

・9:15～ Hamasaka Kita Elementary School Yosakoi Soran Bushi

9:35am - Raffle for the Snow Crab Fishing Competition

・9:50～ Hamasaka Junior High School Brass Band Performance

・10:15～ Yugetsutei All Stars Live

・10:45～ Snow crab body removal competition

・11:50～ Hamasaka High School Dance Club Live

・From 12:15: Fun rice cake throwing (includes a coupon for a luxurious prize)

・12:30 Event ends

*The time and content may change depending on the weather on the day.

*The event may be scaled down or canceled due to bad weather, etc. Any changes or cancellations to the event will be decided three days in advance. Please check the Hamasaka Tourism Association website for information on the day of the event (whether it will be held or canceled).

*Please note: Pets are allowed inside the venue, but please refrain from bringing them into the food and drink booths. Smoking is prohibited inside the venue. Please use the designated smoking areas.

◎Organizer: Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival Executive Committee

◎Co-organized by: Hamasaka Fisheries Cooperative, Hamasaka Motorboat Trawl Fisheries Association, Shichikama Onsen Ryokan Association, Hamasaka Onsen Ryokan Committee, Shin-onsen Town Chamber of Commerce, Mikata County Propane Association, Hamasaka Tourism Association

◎Sponsored by Shin-onsen Town

◎ Cooperation: Yumura Onsen Tourism Association, Kabushiki Kaisha Moto Construction Co., Ltd., Moriyama Oil Co., Ltd., Onishi Ship Equipment Co., Ltd., Tesac Co., Ltd., Tokyo Steel Fiber Rope Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Yanmar Marine Systems Co., Ltd., Marukai Watanabe Fisheries Co., Ltd., Asahi Co., Ltd., Maekawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Iwata Oil Co., Ltd.

◎Contact: Hamasaka Tourism Association

Matsuba crab dining corner How to enjoy Hamasaka Matsuba crab

・Menu

* Prices and items for 2024 are for reference only . Store prices will apply for 2025.

A 12,000 yen (large pine crab with all legs)

B 10,000 yen (Large Matsuba crab missing a leg)

C 7,000 yen (medium-sized pine crab with all legs)

D 6,000 yen (medium-sized pine crab missing one leg)

E 4,000 yen (small pine crab with all legs)

The process from purchase to consumption

① Choose and purchase a Matsuba crab at the "Matsuba Crab Sales" booth.

② Once you have received your Matsuba crab, tray, and cooking number tag, please proceed to the "Crab Sommelier" booth.

3. At the "Crab Sommelier" booth, hand over the tray of Matsuba crabs, wait for the crabs to be filleted, and once you have received the filleted Matsuba crabs, proceed with the queue.

4. At the "Grilled Crab" booth, hand over the tray containing the prepared crab and cooking number tag, tell them the number of legs you would like to eat as sashimi, and receive your crab sashimi and a copy of the cooking number tag.

⑤ At the condiment dish and crab shell container area, please take the required number of condiment dishes and crab shell containers and sit down at an available seat and enjoy your crab leg sashimi.

⑥ Once your grilled crab and crab roe are ready, your ticket number will be called. Please answer and we will deliver it to your seat.

⑦ When you have finished your meal, please return the crab sashimi tray, condiment plate, etc. to the "Tableware Return Corner."

⑧After returning the tableware, please exit the store through the designated exit.

Access information

Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival Location: Hamasaka Fishing Port Auction Market

・Nearest station: Hamasaka Station (approximately 22 minutes walk from Hamasaka Station)

Hamasaka Tourism Association Homepage

About the Crab Sommelier

Hamasaka is a producer of high-quality crabs, boasting the highest catch in Japan thanks to the nutrient- Toyotomi fishing grounds provided by the volcanic ash of Daisen Daisen. In addition to strict freshness control, which involves making the caught crabs spit out mud at their natural habitat temperature, and advanced fishing techniques, the brand has been supported by Japan's first ``crab sommelier,'' who has studied crab appraisal, cooking, and culture, and is responsible for establishing its solid position.

A crab sommelier teaches you how to eat Matsuba crab deliciously

Summary: Enjoy fresh Matsuba crab in Hamasaka

The thrill of tasting freshly grilled crab on the spot is a blissful moment that can only be experienced locally. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the authentic taste and lively atmosphere at the Hamasaka Minato Crab Festival!