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Aims:  To evaluate enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oyster tissues following artificial contamination and depuration. Methods and Results:  After inoculating with V. parahaemolyticus (ATCC 17802) and incubating for 24 h, the contaminated oysters were depurated with artificial seawater for 14 days. At each step, the tissue homogenate supernatants of oysters were spread‐plated onto thiosulfate‐citrate‐bile salt‐sucrose agar, followed by colony confirmation by the polymerase chain reaction. The pathogen was detected in the gills, digestive glands (including stomach, digestive ducts and digestive diverticula), adductor muscle and mantle cilia. After a 48‐h depuration period at 17–19°C, the retention rate of V. parahaemolyticus in the gills (28·1%) and digestive glands (13·5%) was higher than that in adductor muscle and mantle cilia (1·4 and 2·4%, respectively). Conclusions:  The population of V. parahaemolyticus in the digestive glands was the highest among all tissues tested, followed by the gills. The data indicate that digestive glands and gills are good sample candidates for direct monitoring of V. parahaemolyticus contamination in oysters. Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first report on the dynamics of V. parahaemolyticus in various oyster tissues following artificial contamination and depuration. This study provides information to help in monitoring for V. parahaemolyticus in commercial oysters.

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