Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival
Have you heard of the “Yosakoi Festival”? It’s a very striking festival, in which dancers with wooden clappers called “naruko” dance along to the beat. The festival was first held over 60 years ago, and it has become such a popular phenomenon both in Japan and worldwide that it is currently held in 18 different locations across the world.
Kochi is the original home of the Yosakoi Festival.
The eve of Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival is celebrated every year on August 9th, the main festival August 10th and 11th, and the closing day on August 12th, so the entire festival is spread over 4 days. Around 200 teams from across Japan come to compete in the festival, filling the streets of Kochi with their dance performances. Even just watching the performances is fun, but some teams allow people to join in, so if you’re lucky you might be able to participate too!
Kochi is already a great place to visit, with abundant nature, delicious rice, and a variety of activities to participate in. This summer festival is a great excuse to come visit!
Video of Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival
Basic information on Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival
- Location
- 16 venues within Kochi City
- Address
- 1-11Obiyamachi, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture (Central Park Arena)
- Dates and Times
-
[Festival Eve] August 9th, 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
※Fireworks launched along the Kagami River 7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
[Main Festival] August 10th-11th, 11:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m.
[Closing Day, National Competition] August 12th, 12:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - URL(English)
- http://visitkochijapan.com/things_to_do/events/yosakoi_festival.html