A product fair featuring 55 shops, including 8 shops making their debut outside the prefecture, and the first-ever "Awamori Bar" at the aquarium! ~Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the "Coral Project" with Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture, and the first large-scale collaborative event since the signing of the comprehensive partnership agreement~
Sunshine City (Ikebukuro, Tokyo) will host the "17th Sunshine City Okinawa Mensore Festa," a 10-day event themed around Okinawa, one of Japan's most celebrated tourist destinations, at various facilities within Sunshine City from May 22nd (Fri) to May 31st (Sun).
The " Okinawa Mensore Festa " began as a result of the " Coral Project ," which Sunshine Aquarium has been working on since 2006 in cooperation with Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this project , and in order to further develop the cooperative relationship with Onna Village, a comprehensive partnership agreement was signed on April 17th. This event is the first large-scale collaborative effort between the two parties since the signing of the agreement, and it embodies the areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement, such as the promotion of tourism, culture, and arts .
Leveraging our relationships with local governments, including Onna Village, we will once again host a diverse " Okinawa Products Fair " unique to this event. This year, 55 stores will be exhibiting , and of the 12 stores exhibiting for the first time, 8 are exhibiting outside of Okinawa Prefecture for the first time. You can enjoy the authentic charm of the region that you can only find here.
In addition, you can enjoy Okinawan culture in various locations both inside and outside Sunshine City, such as live performances by Okinawan artists at the fountain plaza and Eisa dance experiences at Ike Sun Park.
Please enjoy these 10 days completely immersed in the world of Okinawa!
[ Click here for the event website ]
Points for the Sunshine City Okinawa Mensore Festa
1. Experience deep and authentic Okinawan culture!
The appeal of this event lies in its opportunity to experience "authentic Okinawa," leveraging local networks, including those with Onna Village. This year, Kadena Town will be participating as a local government for the first time, and the event will bring together the charms of not only Okinawa Main Island but also various remote islands such as Ishigaki Island. You can discover real tourist information and new attractions from each region.
2. Tokyo's largest "Okinawa Products Fair"! 8 out of 55 stores are exhibiting outside of Okinawa for the first time! You can also enjoy rare gourmet foods!
This year, 55 shops will be exhibiting, 12 of which are making their first appearance at this event , offering a fresh lineup even for repeat visitors. Furthermore, 8 of these shops are exhibiting outside of Okinawa Prefecture for the first time . You can also enjoy extremely rare gourmet foods that are hard to find outside of Okinawa. In addition to souvenirs and local products, you can enjoy freshly made Okinawan gourmet food such as Okinawa soba and sata andagi right there on the spot.
3. Sunshine City is transformed into an Okinawan paradise! The aquarium will host its first-ever "Awamori Bar," where you can enjoy A-ball while watching jellyfish!
At the fountain plaza and the product exhibition venue, exciting live stages featuring Okinawan traditional performing arts and artists with ties to Okinawa will be held daily. In addition, Sunshine Aquarium will offer special guided tours and workshops where visitors can learn about coral to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the "Coral Project," which was the impetus for the Mensore Festa . Furthermore, the jellyfish exhibit area, "Kurage Kukan," will host the first-ever "Awamori Bar" at night only, where visitors can relax and enjoy watching the jellyfish drift by while sipping on an A-ball (awamori soda) . Combined with the interior decorations and background music that take advantage of the scale unique to a large complex facility, you can experience Okinawa everywhere you go.
4. With a newly added kids' space and approximately 400 seats for dining, everyone can fully enjoy Okinawa!
Sunshine City aims to be a facility where families can spend their time "even more enjoyably," "comfortably," and "with peace of mind," and will be adding a new "kids' space" within the product exhibition area . Families can relax and enjoy themselves without worrying about the time. In addition, the product exhibition venue will have approximately 300 seats and standing tables . Outside, there will be a beer terrace with approximately 120 seats where you can enjoy products purchased at the product exhibition while listening to live music, so you can enjoy yourself in your own way, whether alone, with friends, or with family.
Details regarding the comprehensive partnership agreement between Sunshine City and Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture can be found here (Published: April 20, 2026).
https://co.sunshinecity.co.jp/archives/007/202604/8b39d0caec94c9a31e5d1fedbf0f1265ee030ff6abf762e048c44e30da4530ae.pdf
◆Okinawa Products Fair (Exhibition Hall A)
A total of 55 shops will be gathered here, offering everything from popular local products favored by tourists to lesser-known, hidden soul food! More than half of the shops will be offering live demonstrations that are a feast for the eyes as well. Of the 12 shops exhibiting for the first time at this event, 8 are exhibiting outside of Okinawa Prefecture for the first time. In addition to classic Orion beer, taco rice, and Okinawa soba, there will also be live demonstrations of " Chi-iricha (blood irichi) ," a traditional Okinawan soul food made by stir-frying and simmering pork, vegetables, and pig's blood, as well as " Daito soba ," which features chewy homemade noodles , and other shops offering authentic Okinawan flavors.
Furthermore, Kadena Town, making its first appearance as a local government exhibitor, will be showcasing " KADENA SMOOTHIE ," which offers freshly made smoothies topped with shaved brown sugar , and " PARA PARLOR ," which features shaved ice with a cold Okinawan zenzai (sweet red bean soup)! You might just discover a side of Okinawa you never knew existed!
For the first time ever! A kids' space will be available in the Okinawa Products Fair area!
Sunshine City aims to be a facility where families can spend their time "even more enjoyably," "comfortably," and "with peace of mind," and for the first time, it will be adding a kids' space to the product exhibition area .
Priority is given to those using the kids' play area when it comes to eating and drinking around the kids' play area. You can eat and drink with peace of mind while your children are playing.
*Parental supervision is required. *Only preschool children are allowed. *Staff are not always present.
[Okinawa Products Fair Outdoor Special Venue] Orion Beer presents Mensore Beer Terrace (Paid)
You can enjoy live sanshin (Okinawan stringed instrument) performances and other music while savoring products purchased at the local products fair in our outdoor venue with approximately 120 seats.
The admission fee is a great deal, as it includes a 3,000 yen gift certificate that can be used at the product fair, and entry into a limited raffle where you can win Orion Beer Co., Ltd.'s chu-hi "natura Refreshing Shikuwasa" and "Rich Mango" (2 types)!
Admission fee: 4,000 yen (advance reservation required)
▼Click here for reservation methods and live performance details
https://sunshinecity.jp/file/official/okinawa/top/beer_terrace.html
Scenes from past events
◆Okinawa Live Stage (Fountain Square)
A live stage featuring numerous Okinawan artists will be held at the fountain plaza located on the B1 floor of the Alpa shopping mall.
On Friday, May 22nd, the first day of the event, we will hold the Okinawa Mensore Festa Opening Stage. The event will kick off with an unveiling of the comprehensive partnership agreement between Onna Village and our company, which was signed on Friday, April 17th, as well as a powerful Eisa dance performance.
In addition to the ever-popular artists, this year sees the return of "THE SAKISHIMA meeting," a music unit formed by Yukito Ara, a sanshin player from Ishigaki Island, and Isamu Shimoji, an artist from Miyako Island, after a two-year absence! Furthermore, you can enjoy Okinawan traditional performing arts to your heart's content, including Okinawan songs and dances, and Eisa dance performances from Onna Village.
◆Sunshine Aquarium
Coral Project Celebrates its 20th Anniversary! Guided tours and workshops that connect "learning" about coral to "doing" it.
The "Coral Project," Sunshine Aquarium's coral conservation initiative, which began in 2006, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with the cooperation of Onna Village. To mark this milestone, we will be developing initiatives that will allow visitors to learn about the current state of coral and take a step towards "practical" environmental conservation.
▸ "Exploration Guided Tour" (fee applies)
We will be offering a limited-time "Exploration Guided Tour" (fee required), where our aquarium staff will guide you through the back areas, in a special coral-themed version. You can see firsthand the real conservation efforts at the coral-growing site and learn more about corals.
▸Vetiver Workshop *Limited to Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th
A special booth will be set up where you can learn about efforts to protect coral reefs in Onna Village. Workshops will be held using "vetiver," which is used as a green belt to suppress the runoff of red soil into the sea in order to conserve coral.
The workshop also includes an experience of making friendship bracelets using "vetiver."
Friendship bracelet made with vetiver
In addition, we will be holding a stamp rally where you can get an original sticker by visiting three areas: the Okinawa Products Fair, the Fountain Square, and the Aquarium.
Furthermore, at the "Shop Aqua Pocket" on the second floor of the building, original knitted eco-bags and "Sunna-chan's Gratitude Brown Sugar," a portion of which is used for coral planting and conservation activities, are being sold from the Mensore Festa period.
Additionally, as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Coral Project, we have set up a donation box . The collected donations will be given to Onna Village and used for activities such as coral health checks and beach cleanups.
▸ "Coral Project" website
https://sunshinecity.jp/file/aquarium/coral_project/
▸ "Coral Project 20th Anniversary Journey" Released
https://co.sunshinecity.co.jp/press-room/news-release/2026-04-20-2.html
"Performance Okinawa Mensore Festa ver." – A fun way to learn about animals and Okinawan culture.
The aquarium's popular daily performances will be presented in a limited-time "Okinawa Mensore Festa version." During feeding time at "Sunshine Lagoon," aquarium staff will appear wearing traditional Okinawan clothing, "Ryuso." Furthermore, during the sea lion performance, they will create an Okinawan atmosphere by skillfully balancing on Shisa statues.
Date and time:
Sunshine Lagoon Feeding Time Okinawa Mensore Festa version. 11:00 AM each day
Sea lion performance time, Okinawa Mensore Festa version. Daily at 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Sunshine Lagoon Feeding Time – Okinawa Mensore Festa Version
Sea lion performance time – Okinawa Mensore Festa version.
First-ever event!! A romantic jellyfish-themed "Awamori Bar"
Every day from 5:00 PM during the event period, we will be hosting "Kurage Kukan Awamori Bar Ishikawa Shuzojo R&D Department IC LABO," where you can enjoy awamori from Ishikawa Shuzojo, an awamori distillery located in Okinawa Prefecture. This event will allow you to compare three types of A-balls (awamori mixed with soda) developed by Ishikawa Shuzojo's R&D Department, as well as sample Ishikawa Shuzojo's awamori. Held at Sunshine Aquarium's "Kurage Kukan," this is an interactive awamori bar where you can experience new, unreleased awamori as an "experiment." We will be serving awamori (A-balls) developed specifically to be mixed with soda, so please enjoy a new value experience in which you yourself participate in product development.
Date and time: 17:00 – 20:00
Price: A-ball 3-type tasting set 1,200 yen
We also have a variety of other awamori (Okinawan distilled spirits) from Ishikawa Brewery available (for a fee).
How to purchase tickets: [Ages 20 and over, limited quantity] Admission tickets with a tasting of 3 types of A-ball are available for purchase on "Asoview!". *Tickets will also be available on the day of the event.
Jellyfish Space Awamori Bar Ishikawa Brewery Research and Development Department IC LABO
[ Click here for information about the aquarium's events ]
◆Experience Okinawa even outside of Sunshine City!
P-144 x Citraba
At "P-144 x Citraba," the food and beverage floor on the first and second basement levels of "P-144," a community hub operated by Sunshine City, we will be offering Okinawan cuisine, Okinawan craft beer, and Orion beer—perfect for a drink after the Okinawa Mensore Festa.
Dates: May 22nd (Fri) – 31st (Sun) *Closed on May 25th (Mon)
Time: 11:30-23:30
Location: PAPILLON BLDG. P-144 B1-2F, 1-4-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
Okinawa Taco Pizza / 1,430 yen *Limited quantity
Eisa dance experience
The Onna Village Youth Association will be holding an Eisa dance experience workshop for elementary school students at Toshima Midori Disaster Prevention Park, near Sunshine City.
Date and Time: Saturday, May 23rd, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM *Cancelled in case of rain
Location: Toshima Midori Disaster Prevention Park (nickname: Ike-Sun Park)
Target audience: Elementary school students
Price: Free
How to participate: Advance online reservation required (on-site registration possible if there are available slots)
Scenes from past events
WACCA IKEBUKURO
At "Wacca Coffee Club" on the 4th floor of WACCA IKEBUKURO, a limited-time collaboration drink with Okinawa's "35COFFEE (coffee roasted using weathered coral)" will be available, allowing you to relax and enjoy the Okinawan atmosphere.
Hours: 12:00 – 18:00 *Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Location: WACCA IKEBUKURO 4F, 1-8-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
Brown sugar Wiener coffee / 600 yen
Event Overview
Event Name: The 17th Sunshine City Okinawa Mensore Festa
Period: May 22nd (Fri) – May 31st (Sun), a total of 10 days
Organizer: Sunshine City
Co-sponsored by: Onna Village, Onna Village Tourism Association
Sponsored by: Orion Beer Co., Ltd., Sanyo Bussan Co., Ltd. / Sanyo Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Supported by: Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Toshima Ward Tourism Association
[ Event Website ]
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■ Sunshine City Overview
Location: 3-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: Vary by facility
For inquiries, please contact Sunshine City Information Desk at 03-3989-3331.
https://sunshinecity.jp/
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*Please note that the content and schedule may be changed or canceled depending on the circumstances.
*The image is for illustrative purposes only.
*All prices include tax.
*The number of stores includes PR booths.
[Sunshine City Co., Ltd.] Press Release
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