From September 19 (Saturday) to 26 (Saturday), 2026, Otaru's Kita Unga (North Canal) area hosts Kita Unga Night Market Yummy-ichi 2026, an eight-day evening event organized by the Otaru Next 100 executive committee.
Kita Unga is home to a row of historic warehouses and preserves the original scenery of the Otaru Canal. As the sun sets, lights come on along the water and around 30 food, drink, and market stalls gather alongside live music. Known simply as Yummy-ichi, the night market drew roughly 50,000 visitors last year and has become part of how Otaru celebrates autumn.
This year's eight-day run falls during Japan's September Silver Week holiday, offering a side of Otaru that looks quite different from its daytime charm — one for eating, drinking, and walking along the canal after dark.
Otaru draws visitors year-round, but much of that traffic concentrates in the daytime hours and around the city's central sightseeing area. Kita Unga Night Market Yummy-ichi is part of an effort to draw people from the center of town out to the North Canal, extend how long visitors stay in Otaru, and introduce a new way to spend an evening in the city.
About 30 Food and Market Stalls
Around 30 distinctive stalls line the venue, including food vendors serving the flavors of Otaru and Hokkaido. Visitors can sip a drink or snack while taking in the canal, or stroll along Kita Unga while eating along the way — the market is built around the idea of enjoying a walk through the area.
Kita Unga Wrapped in Light, Only on Autumn Nights
Throughout the event, Kita Unga is lit with illuminations, paper lanterns, and other soft lighting. The historic warehouses, the canal's surface, and the gentle glow combine into a dreamlike scene. Visitors can take in views of Kita Unga that only appear after dark, whether they're out for a stroll or stopping to take photos.
Music, Canal Lanterns, and a Japan Heritage Walking Game
The lineup also includes Kita Unga Music Live, set against the backdrop of the historic warehouses; Unga Toro (Canal Lanterns), which light the canal's surface with a soft glow; and a Japan Heritage walking game that leads participants through Otaru's history and culture as they explore the city. Together, these activities are built around Kita Unga's scenery and history, filling all eight days across the whole area.
Making Otaru's Nights More Exciting, Starting From Kita Unga
The organizers see this as more than a one-night event. After a day of sightseeing, the hope is that visitors will feel like walking a little further and exploring more of Otaru. By strengthening the flow of people through Kita Unga, the event aims to build new nighttime appeal for the city over the long term, built around the idea that Otaru is even more interesting after dark.
Keep an eye on Kita Unga this fall for a side of Otaru you won't see at any other time of year.
Event Overview
Event Name: Kita Unga Night Market Yummy-ichi 2026
Dates: Saturday, September 19 to Saturday, September 26, 2026 (8 days). A pre-opening is planned for Friday, September 18.
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Kita Unga, Otaru, Hokkaido (from Chuo Bridge on the Otaru Canal, along the canal promenade, to the plaza in front of the former Hokkai Can Building No. 3 Warehouse)
Admission: Free
Program: Food and market stalls, illumination, a music stage, and more
Vendors: Around 30 stalls planned
Organizer: Otaru Next 100 executive committee
Official Website
https://otaru-canal.jp/100th/
