Ibaraki Joso Melon Festival Lands June 13! Free Tastings, 777 Yen Morning Sale, and Limited-Edition Sweets All in One Place

A half-day trip to the Tokyo suburbs in early summer, if you're looking for something seasonal and a place to buy souvenirs, the Joso Roadside Station (Michi-no-Eki Joso) in Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a memorable choice. From June 13th to June 21st, 2026, they will be hosting the Joso Melon Festival 2026, bringing together Ibaraki-grown melon tastings, direct sales, limited edition sweets, and family-friendly activities all in one location.

Ibaraki is a leading region for producing melons in Japan. This time, you can not only purchase seasonal flavors from places like Hokota City, Namegata City, and Yachiyo Town, but you can also compare different varieties through tasting. For Taiwanese travelers, this kind of roadside station event is perfect to include in a self-driving itinerary: go to the venue in the morning to grab limited-edition products, have a limited-edition meal for lunch, and then mail the melons back to your accommodation in Japan or give them to local friends in the afternoon. The rhythm is just right.

Free Ibaraki melon samples every day.

The main event during the campaign period is a daily large-scale cantaloupe tasting event. Varieties such as Ibaraking, Takami Melon, Claris Melon, Takami Red, and Quincy Melon are expected to be sold on-site, with prices starting from ¥1,500 per melon, and Ibaraking starting from ¥1,800 per melon. The aroma, sweetness, and flesh texture vary significantly between different varieties, making it very friendly for travelers unfamiliar with Japanese cantaloupe varieties to taste before deciding which one to buy.

The venue will also host surprise honeydew melon flash sales at unannounced times, while supplies last. To get a good deal, it's recommended not to cut your visit too short; allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to browse the venue at your leisure, and you'll have a better chance of encountering a sale.

Weekend morning special: One scoop for ¥777!

A morning melon sale will be held at a special venue for selling melons on June 13, 14, 20, and 21, starting at 9:00 AM. The first 50 customers each day are limited to one melon per person, priced at 777 yen per melon. Varieties and sizes will vary depending on supply. To secure this deal, we recommend arriving around opening time, not in the afternoon.

Purchase 5,000 yen or more of melons and participate in a melon omikuji (fortune slip) drawing at Melon Shrine (メロン神社), with a chance to win a whole melon if you draw "excellent luck." On the weekends of June 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st, enjoy Melon Bowling at a special outdoor venue starting at 10:00 AM for 500 yen per play. This activity is perfect for family trips, allowing children to join in the fun.

The limited-time menu ranges from seafood bowls to honey melon soft serve ice cream.

This event isn't just about selling fruit; the restaurants in the venue have also launched a large number of limited-time menus. Inaho Shokudo offers the "Melon Morimori Kaisendon," a seafood bowl served on half a salted melon from Ibaraki, priced at 5,280 yen. An even more visually striking option is the "Kaisendon Melon Castle," weighing approximately 1kg and priced at 4,730 yen. If you're looking for photo opportunities or want to try trendy dishes, these two options are recommended.

For dessert pies, consider targeting Ibaraki Raw Melon Pudding (594 yen) and TAMAGOYA Melon Pudding (495 yen) from TAMAGOYA Joso House, or the Melon Pancake (1,650 yen) and Full Melon Pancake (3,960 yen) from TAMAGOYA Cafe Restaurant. The melon soft-serve ice cream shop also offers options like King Melon Soft Serve (1,600 yen), Melon Parfait (800 yen), and Luxurious Melon Soda (600 yen), perfect for a sweet break during your self-drive tour.

Gift ideas and delivery services are also practical.

During the campaign period, Ibaraki melons will be delivered nationwide for 1,000 yen per melon. This service does not include Hokkaido, Okinawa, or remote islands. If you will be traveling for many more days, it is not recommended to keep the whole melon in the car or suitcase for a long time. You can inquire about delivery conditions on-site and then decide whether to send it to your accommodation, a friend's house, or a delivery address within Japan.

The merchandise area also offers processed souvenirs such as Ibaraki melon manjū, melon roll cakes, melon black tea, and melon coffee. Compared to whole fruits, these are more suitable for checking customs and food import regulations before taking them back to Taiwan; if you are just traveling within Japan, they are perfect as snacks to share with your travel companions.

Event Information

• Event Name: Joso Melon Festival 2026
• Date: June 13, 2026 - June 21, 2026
• Location: Joso Road Station
• Address: 1 Musubimachi, Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00, subject to change depending on the season.
• Transportation: Adjacent to the Ken-O Expressway Joso Interchange, along National Route 294.
• Parking spaces: 114 for regular cars, 48 for large vehicles, 4 for disabled persons, 2 for EV charging.
• Website:https://www.michinoeki-joso.com/

JOY JAPAN Recommended Playstyles

This event is best suited for self-driving travelers, families with children, and those who want to buy seasonal Japanese fruits. If you are starting from Tokyo, we recommend making the Jōso Road Service Area the first stop of your Ibaraki one-day trip. You can sample and buy fruits in the morning, enjoy a special lunch menu, and then head to Tsukuba, Kasumigaura, or other Ibaraki attractions in the afternoon. If you are only interested in taking photos and enjoying desserts, visiting on a weekday will be more relaxed than on a weekend. If you want to snag the 777 yen special, be prepared for crowds on weekend mornings.