潮干狩(しおひが)り

しおひがり
noun
shellfish gathering; clamming
leisure
1. shellfish gathering; clamming; digging for clams at low tide
A popular recreational activity in Japan, typically done in spring, where people gather clams and other shellfish on tidal flats during low tide.
春(はる)になると潮干狩(しおひが)りに行(い)く。
We go clamming when spring comes.
家族(かぞく)で潮干狩(しおひが)りを楽(たの)しんだ。
We enjoyed shellfish gathering as a family.
ゴールデンウィークは潮干狩(しおひが)りのシーズンで、多(おお)くの人(ひと)が干潟(ひがた)を訪(おとず)れる。
Golden Week is clamming season, and many people visit the tidal flats.

A seasonal spring activity popular with families, especially during Golden Week (late April to early May). The main target is あさり (short-necked clam). Famous spots include 千葉(ちば)県(けん) and 愛知(あいち)県(けん) coastal areas. The word combines 潮干(しおひ) (ebb tide) with 狩(か)り (hunting/gathering). Related: 干潟(ひがた) (tidal flat), 大潮(おおしお) (spring tide — the best time for clamming).

Related Words

Related: 引(ひ)き潮(しお) (ebb tide)
Related: 山菜採(さんさいと)り (gathering wild vegetables)
Related: 茸狩(きのこが)り (mushroom picking)
Compare: 蛍狩(ほたるが)り (firefly viewing)
Compare: りんご狩(が)り (apple picking)
Compare: 磯遊(いそあそ)び (playing at a rocky shore)
Related: 果物(くだもの)狩(が)り (fruit picking (as a leisure outing))
general
Added 2026.3.22 12:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18507_shiohigari