How to visit Ebisu Matsuri 2025

Most car fans know Ebisu Circuit as the home ground of drifting. Located up in the mountains of Fukushima, packed with character, and full of the kind of raw, unpolished action you just don’t get anywhere else. If you’re into grassroots drifting, chances are you’ve seen the clips, heard the stories, maybe even planned a trip out here yourself.

But there’s something they don’t show you in the videos.

Right Next Door to the Track

Just 25 metres from all the tyre smoke and engine noise, there’s a zoo. It’s not some fancy side attraction or separate operation, it’s part of the same property, owned by the same people who run the track.

It’s the kind of place you’d probably miss if no one pointed it out. But once you do see it, it’s hard to unsee. You’ve got bears, lions, and other animals living in small, rusted cages. Some of the enclosures aren’t much bigger than a bedroom. Reviews from visitors mention animals that look underfed, drinking from what looks like stagnant water. In winter, it’s freezing up there. In summer, it’s scorching. And there’s not a lot of shelter in sight.

Look, we’re not here to be dramatic. We’re car people. We didn’t come to Ebisu looking to start a conversation about animal welfare. But it hits differently when it’s right in front of you. You can’t help but picture your own dog stuck in one of those cages, cold, no stimulation, just pacing in circles all day. It’s confronting. Especially when it’s within earshot of one of the most iconic drift tracks in the world.

Why Say Anything?

• Because nobody talks about it. Most visitors don’t even realise it’s there. That’s a problem.
• Because your money counts. Supporting car culture doesn’t have to mean turning a blind eye to everything else.
• Because it feels wrong to stay quiet. The drifting community is loud, proud, and passionate. That energy can go toward asking better questions too.

This isn’t about cancelling Ebisu or boycotting drifting. The track has a legendary legacy, and it means a lot to a lot of people. But if something’s off, it’s okay to talk about it. That’s what keeps the culture real.

Posting these here for reach, if you were searching for Ebisu event dates like i was 6 months ago, hopefully now you know the full story too.

2025 Ebisu Matsuri Dates

• Spring Matsuri: April 19–20
• Summer Matsuri: August 23–24
• Autumn Matsuri: November 15–16

Ebisu Matsuri is a 31-hour drift festival held three times a year—nonstop action from Saturday morning through to Sunday afternoon . These are the official dates if you’re chasing event info.

Ebisu Drift Series – 2025 Rounds

• Round 1: May 4
• Round 2: August 16
• Round 3: November 2

Getting to Ebisu

Ebisu Circuit is in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima. Easiest way to get there is a Shinkansen to Koriyama, then hire a car or grab a taxi. Some people book hotels nearby. Others just crash in a hire car overnight at the track.