Tohoku · AomoriFood
Scoop your own clams out of a tank for ¥300 at a roadside station above Lake Jusan — one day only, 23 August 2026.
Overview
Jusanko Kogen Matsuri (十三湖高原まつり) is a one-day food festival held at the Michi-no-Eki Jusanko Kogen roadside station, on high ground above Lake Jusan in the Shiura district of Goshogawara City.
Its signature attraction is shijimi sukuidori — scooping freshwater yamato-shijimi clams, harvested from the brackish lake below, for ¥300 a try. Draw the jackpot and you get to scoop with a jumbo shovel. Note that there is no event officially called a “shijimi matsuri”; the clams are the star attraction of a festival named after the highland itself.
When and Where
Date: Sunday 23 August 2026, one day only.
Hours: 09:00–15:00. Held rain or shine.
Venue: Michi-no-Eki Jusanko Kogen “Tosam Green Park”, 287-1058 Ainai Minetori, Goshogawara City, Aomori.
Getting There
There is no walkable rail access — a car or taxi is required. It is roughly 45 minutes by car from JR Goshogawara Station on the Gono Line, or about 15 minutes from Tsugaru-Nakasato Station on the Tsugaru Railway. From the expressway, allow about 75 minutes from Namioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Parking on site is free.
If you are already travelling the Tsugaru peninsula — for the Gono Line coastal route or the Tsugaru Railway’s seasonal trains — this fits neatly as a mid-morning stop.
What to Expect
Alongside the clam scooping, a tokusan-ichi local-produce market sells goods from the Jusan area and neighbouring municipalities. The roadside station’s own shop stocks freshly caught yamato-shijimi, Sea of Japan pebbles, Aomori hiba woodcraft and local soaps.
The on-site restaurant serves Shiura beef, shijimi ramen and shijimi set meals — Goshogawara City’s own announcement singles out the Shiura beef short rib. The site itself sits on high ground with a distant view of Mount Iwaki, above Aomori’s third-largest lake.
Tickets and Admission
Free to enter. The clam-scooping attraction costs ¥300 per attempt. Food and produce are paid per item.
Tips for Visitors
Arrive in the morning. The event ends at 15:00 and the produce market sells down through the day; the clam scooping is the main draw and queues build.
You need a car or taxi. No station is within walking distance — budget about 45 minutes’ drive from Goshogawara Station.
It runs in the rain. The roadside station itself stays open until 18:00 in August (restaurant 10:30–17:00, last order 16:00) if you want to eat after the festival winds up. Enquiries: 0173-62-3556.
Access and Map
| Date | Sunday 23 August 2026 (one day) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00–15:00, held rain or shine |
| Venue | Michi-no-Eki Jusanko Kogen “Tosam Green Park”, Goshogawara City, Aomori |
| Access | Approx. 45 min by car from JR Goshogawara Station; approx. 15 min from Tsugaru-Nakasato Station. Free parking. |
| Admission | Free entry; clam scooping ¥300 per try |
| Official site | Amazing AOMORI (Aomori Prefecture) |
Source: Amazing AOMORI, Aomori Prefecture official tourism site
Also: Goshogawara City official website
Image: Photo: Sasukuhana / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 — the roadside station venue, not the festival day
