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Awa Odori Dance Festival

Awa Odori is a large dance festival in Tokushima Prefecture that happens on August 12th-15th as part of the Obon season.

Awa Odori is the most famous and largest dance festival in Japan. Awa Odori is known to be associated with this phrase. “It’s a fool who dances and a fool who watches. If both are fools, you might as well have fun dancing.” It is the translated lyrics that come from a common dance song in Japan. This dance festival happens in Tokushima Prefecture during the Obon (festival of the dead) Festival. It is said that the spirits of the deceased visit their living relatives for a few days during Obon. The Awa Odori has thousands of dancers broken down into groups ranging from amateurs to seasoned practitioners.

These groups are referred to as “ren” and performed in designated streets, which are blocked off from traffic. Along with the dancers are traditional instruments like the taiko, shamisen, flute, etc. that provide the musical rhythm of the performance. The women wear a yukata (a light cotton kimono) with amigasa (a woven rush grass hat) and the men wear a happi (light cotton coat) over shorts. The main dance performances begin at 6pm and usually conclude around 10pm each night. You can pay for reserved seating that ranges from 800 to 2100 yen. Outside of these stage areas are food and game stalls that people can enjoy throughout the and at night. The Awa Odori can trace its beginnings back to 1587 when Hachisuka Iemasa (feudal lord at the time) wanted to celebrate the completion of Tokushima Castle. He offered sake (rice wine) to all the citizens of the city, which resulted in many people dancing in a drunken state. Since then it had turn into a city wide dance celebration. If you are not able to make it to see the dances then you can visit the Awa Odori Kaikan, which is a museum showcasing the history of the festival. There is also a dance hall where you can see some dance demonstrations.

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Best of Japan Tour Summer: Tokushima Awa Odori 
Dance Festival

Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

Best of Japan Tour Summer: Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival
Best of Japan Tour Summer: Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival
100 reviews
100 reviews

11 Days 10 Nights | from US $4598.00

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Perfect for those who want to visit the well known regions of Japan.
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Thu. Aug 8, 2024 Sun. Aug 18, 2024 US $4598.00 Tokyo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
Fri. Aug 8, 2025 Mon. Aug 18, 2025 US $4598.00 Tokyo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
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Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

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This tour features Japan Summer Highlights including the summer flowers, festivals & fireworks.

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