Ise Lobster Festival

What Is the Ise Lobster Festival?

The Ise Lobster Festival is held each June in Shima, Mie Prefecture, to give thanks for the region's famous product, the Ise lobster (spiny lobster), and to pray for a bountiful catch. A unique festival of a seaside town built around the Ise lobster, a blessing of the sea of Shima, it bustles with a parade featuring a giant papier-mâché Ise lobster, the "Daiō Lobster," along with lobster sales and events for savoring seafood. It is a festival of gratitude for the bounty of the sea that colors the early summer of Shima.

History and Origins

The Ise Lobster Festival began in 1961. It was conceived on the Shima Peninsula, a major producing area for Ise lobster, to give thanks for the blessings of the sea and to wish for the promotion of fishing and the revitalization of the region. The Ise lobster has long been prized as an auspicious item and as a premium ingredient representative of Mie Prefecture. Celebrating the Ise lobster as a treasure of the region, and imbued with the gratitude of the people of Shima who live alongside the sea, it is a festival rooted in the community that has been handed down for more than half a century.

Highlights

The greatest attraction is the lively parade featuring the giant papier-mâché Ise lobster, the "Daiō Lobster." The sight of the humorous yet imposing Daiō Lobster parading through the town is a feature unique to this festival. At the venue, sales of fresh Ise lobster and events for savoring Shima's seafood, including the lobster, are held, bustling with people who come for the gourmet fare. It is a festival where one can enjoy early-summer Shima, with the vitality of a seaside town and gratitude for the bounty of the sea coming together as one.

When It Takes Place

The festival is typically held in June in Shima, Mie Prefecture. As an early-summer festival, its season is summer. Because the dates and venues of events such as the parade and sales vary from year to year, visitors are advised to confirm details in advance through official announcements from Shima City and the local tourism association. In the event of bad weather, the program may be changed.

Access

Shima City can be reached from the stations of the Kintetsu Shima Line. The Kintetsu Limited Express from the directions of Nagoya and Osaka is convenient, and the location is easily visited together with sightseeing in the Ise-Shima area. By car, routes such as the Ise-Futami-Toba Line from the Ise Expressway are available. Because the nearest station and access method differ by event, advance confirmation is recommended.

Around the Area

Shima City lies at the center of Ise-Shima National Park, with its beautiful ria coastline, and is known for the superb scenery of Ago Bay and as the place where the 2016 Group of Seven summit (the Ise-Shima Summit) was held. The view of Ago Bay from the Yokoyama Observatory, the culture of the ama female divers, and pearl cultivation are among its highlights. Nearby attractions include the Ise Grand Shrine and the Toba Aquarium, making it an area where one can savor the nature and culture of Ise-Shima while enjoying the rich seafood, including the Ise lobster.

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