Kochi Rice Festa 2026 (こうち米フェスタ2026), an event where visitors can compare different types of Kochi rice and enjoy dishes that go well with it, takes place over three days from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 大旺新洋おまち多目的広場. The event is organized by 高知食糧株式会社 (Kochi Shokuryo Co., Ltd.), a rice wholesaler that has been rooted in the local community for more than 100 years since its founding in Kochi Prefecture.
The festival was held for the first time last year, when about 15,000 people enjoyed Kochi rice over the three days. This year marks the second edition.
Event site: https://www.k-shoku.jp/kochi-komefesta/2026/
Why Hold a Rice Event Now
For more than 100 years, 高知食糧株式会社 has worked with local producers to bring out the best of Kochi rice. Seeing customers enjoy the rice and say "this is delicious" is what the company finds most rewarding.
However, the number of rice producers is falling year by year because of aging and a lack of successors, and production is declining along with it. The company believes that one reason behind this trend is that people eat less rice than they used to.
With that in mind, the event aims to share the taste of Kochi rice and the enjoyment and significance of farming, by letting visitors enjoy rice that producers have grown with care.
Five Highlights
1. Compare Five Kochi Rices Selected by Rice Professionals
To serve Kochi rice in its best condition, five varieties of new rice from the Reiwa 8 (2026) harvest are served freshly cooked. Visitors can choose any two of the five (about 90 g per bowl) and experience how each Kochi rice differs by producer and variety.
New rice from the Reiwa 8 (2026) harvest is served freshly cooked
The five Kochi rices served at Kochi Rice Festa 2026
- Specially cultivated Koshihikari from Mihara Village, Kochi, grown by 池本産業
- Specially cultivated Niida rice (仁井田米) from Kochi, with aromatic rice mixed in, grown by 仁井田米特栽グループ
- Milky Queen from Kochi, grown by 横田農園
- Nijinokirameki from Kochi, grown by 武田秀夫
- Specially cultivated Tosa Tenku no Sato Nikomaru (土佐天空の郷 にこまる) from Kochi, grown by 本山町農業公社
2. 15 Rice Accompaniments From Across Japan
To enjoy the rice even more, 15 kinds of "gohan no tomo" (ごはんのおとも), or rice accompaniments, gathered from around Japan are available. They are served as sets of three.
Rice accompaniments are served in sets of three
Set A: Spicy & Savory Set (辛旨セット)
- Authentic scallion kimchi made by a scallion farmer (小ネギ農家の本格ネギキムチ) (Ibaraki)
- Chili oil wood ear mushrooms (ラー油木耳) (Kagawa)
- The strongest bonito rice (最強かつお飯) (Kochi)
Set B: Seafood Accompaniments Set (海鮮おともセット)
- Shrimp medley (海老三昧) (Okayama)
- Salmon shiokara (サーモンの塩辛) (Niigata)
- Shigure-style simmered clams (あさりしぐれ煮) (Chiba)
Set C: Classic Accompaniments Set (おとも定番セット)
- Coarsely flaked autumn salmon (秋鮭荒ほぐし) (Hokkaido)
- Premium shiso kelp (特上しそ昆布) (Hiroshima)
- Freshly made mentaiko (できたてめんたい) (Fukuoka)
Set D: Light & Savory Set (あっさり旨味セット)
- Plum and hijiki seaweed (梅の実ひじき) (Fukuoka)
- Dried sardines with ginger (生姜入りいりこ) (Hiroshima)
- Nameko mushrooms and roasted garlic that go well with rice (ごはんに合うなめ茸と焼きにんにく) (Nara)
Set E: Addictive Set (やみつきセット)
- Kagoshima Kurobuta chili oil (鹿児島くろぶたラー油) (Kagoshima)
- Japanese black beef miso (黒毛和牛みそ) (Kagoshima)
- SABARA- mackerel miso chili oil (SABARA- さば味噌ラー油) (Kochi)
3. More Than 100 Popular Food Items
Meat and fish dishes that go well with Kochi rice, such as beef skewers, Tosa Akaushi beef and tofu stew, and tuna sashimi, are on offer, along with sweets such as ice cream and donuts. A wide variety of food vendors gather at the venue.
焼肉 寛十郎: Yusuhara beef skewer (ゆすはら牛串)
おとうふ肉吸い たかはし: Tosa Akaushi beef and tofu stew (土佐あかうし肉豆腐)
回転寿司 いちばん船: Tuna sashimi (まぐろの刺身)
安芸グループふぁーむ: Ice cream (アイス)
Participating vendors
- おとうふ肉吸い たかはし
- かつ処季の屋
- 香港四季楼 虎嘯
- 北浜敏商店
- 焼き鳥 鳥よし
- 焼肉 寛十郎
- 肉のなかおか 焼肉ぷるこぎ
- Dinning壱choume
- 桂フーズ
- 回転寿司 いちばん船
- ごはん家
- ペンギンコーヒー
- 安芸グループふぁーむ
- NICO CAFE
- 風工房
- 乃が美
- 城西館
4. Stage Events and a Children's Fair for the Whole Family
Over the three days, a variety of stage events are held, including Yosakoi dance performances, live music, and a rice-growing presentation and sale by fifth graders of 伊野南小学校.
Stage event schedule
Guest MCs include 西村雄正, an actor and Tosa dialect instructor, and 土佐かつお, who is active as "Kochi's smile delivery person" (高知の笑顔配達人). On Friday, November 13 and Sunday, November 15, a talk event on the theme of "Kochi food" is also held between 西村雄正 and 山﨑大輔, the fourth-generation president of 高知食糧.
Guest MCs and talk live speakers
The "Children's Fair" (こども縁日) offers games that children can enjoy with their families, such as a shooting game and a rice weight-guessing challenge, with prizes available.
5. Three Present Campaigns
Three present campaigns are also underway to add to the fun of the event. Some of them can be joined easily at the venue.
Campaign details: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeYvO0TGvQ0/
What the Event Hopes to Convey
Through the event, the organizer hopes visitors will come to know the taste of Kochi rice and feel the individuality of rice, which differs by variety, brand, and producer. A visitor's "delicious!" becomes the next source of motivation for the producers who grow Kochi rice.
Event Overview
- Event name: Kochi Rice Festa 2026 (こうち米フェスタ2026)
- Dates: Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026 (3 days), 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (held in light rain)
- Venue: 大旺新洋おまち多目的広場
- Admission: Free. To enjoy the products and services inside the venue, "currency tickets" (通貨チケット) are required.
- Advance ticket: ¥1,000
- Same-day ticket: ¥1,200
- Advance tickets are on sale until the day before the event, Thursday, November 12.
- Advance ticket outlets:
- レストパークいの
- 地のもん市場ハレタ
- Pet Step 薊野店
- Pet Step 朝倉店
- おいしいごはん本舗
- サニーマート, サニーアクシス, and 毎日屋 stores in Kochi Prefecture (excluding some stores)
- teket (e-tickets only)
- Loppi (L-code: 62608)
- Organizer: 高知食糧株式会社
- Supported by: 中国四国農政局, Kochi Prefecture, Kochi Prefectural Board of Education, Kochi City, Kochi City Board of Education, Tosa City, Tosa City Board of Education, Ino Town, Ino Town Board of Education
