Awaodori Festival in Tokushima
The Awa Odori is a festival dance that takes place annually from the 12th through to the 15th of August in Tokushima City, located on the smallest of the Japanese archipelago islands, Shikoku. The date is special to the Buddhist observance of O-bon, during which time the spirits of the deceased are believed to return home.
The dance of Awa Odori is a tradition also known as the Dance of the Fools, having first taken place in 1587 in celebration of a new castle built by a Japanese overlord. The guests were so inebriated that they danced with their arms and legs wildly thrashing about. The joyous spirit of the people during the Awa Odori has kept the festival alive for hundreds of years.
Tokushima City’s main street is full of dancers from over 900 different community groups that put on special performances in full dress yukata (summer kimonos made of cotton). After the special performances, everyone is welcome to join in with more dancing. The celebration flows down to the banks of the Shinmachi River, with food stalls, fairs, and parties going all night long.
Around 1.3 million tourists attend the Awa Odori dance festival each year. There are multiple stages, lots of food and all types of amusements around the festival area. Hotels are booked months in advance and tickets are sold out early, so planning ahead is absolutely essential to attend the Awa Odori.