Obon Festival
Buddhist festival to honor ancestral spirits. Awa Odori in Tokushima is the most famous (1.3M attendees) — synchronized dance through the streets in straw hats and indigo yukata. More spiritual than festive, deeply moving.
Practical info
Domestic flight to Tokushima or train via Awaji Bridge. Dance lessons offered for visitors mornings of Aug 12-13.
Expected weather during the event
Avg high 33°C · low 25°C · 7 rain days
Less-crowded alternatives
- Daimonji Gozan Okuribi, Kyoto (Aug 16) — fire on five mountainsides
Pair with
Cities worth combining with this trip: