Highlights

  • Four all-night dances over Obon (Aug 13-16, 8 pm to 4-5 am)
  • A participatory dance - step into the circle yourself
  • Geta clattering through the old castle-town streets

Background & story

Traced to the early Edo period, when the Endo lords of Gujo-Hachiman gathered the village Bon dances of the domain into the castle town and encouraged everyone to dance 'without distinction of rank' to foster harmony across classes.

Gujo Odori is one of Japan's three great Bon dances, held in Gujo-Hachiman, Gifu, across more than 30 nights from mid-July to early September. Its climax is the Tetsuya Odori ('all-night dance') over Obon. The big draw: this is a dance anyone can join - you don't just watch, you step into the circle. For why it has lasted 400 years, see Gujo Odori origin: why the dance endures.

2026 dates

  • Full run: July 11 (Sat) opening festival - September 5 (Sat) closing dance (30+ nights)
  • All-night dance (Obon, 4 nights):

- Aug 13 (Thu) 8:00 pm - approx. 4:00 am - Aug 14 (Fri) 8:00 pm - approx. 5:00 am - Aug 15 (Sat) 8:00 pm - approx. 5:00 am - Aug 16 (Sun) 8:00 pm - approx. 4:00 am

The all-night dance runs endlessly for up to about nine hours. Other nights also start around 8 pm at venues around town.

Venue (the castle town itself is the stage)

There is no fixed stage - the streets of the old castle town are the venue. During the all-night dance the centre is around 'Shinmachi-Hashimotomachi' on Aug 13-15 and 'Honmachi' on Aug 16. The clatter of wooden geta sandals through the narrow lanes is the heart of Gujo Odori.

Access

  • By train: Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo-Hachiman Station, then about a 20-min walk to the castle town (or ~20 min on the local Mame-bus).
  • From Nagoya: JR to Gifu, JR Takayama Line to Mino-Ota (~30 min), then Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo-Hachiman (~80 min).
  • On all-night-dance nights the dancing continues past the last train, so staying overnight or driving is realistic. Expect crowds and road closures near the venue.

For first-timers

  • Yukata and geta are the classic look, but everyday clothes are fine - the geta beat is part of the dance.
  • Just copy the people around you. There are about ten set dances; learn by following the regulars or a preservation-society member at the back of the circle.
  • Nights get cool - bring a layer and stay hydrated.

Read next

Per-night venues and times are updated on this same page once confirmed. Always check the official announcements from Gujo City / the Gujo Odori organising committee (TABITABI Gujo) for the primary source.

Good to know for visitors

Getting there
Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo-Hachiman Station, then ~20 min on foot to the castle town. From Nagoya: JR Takayama Line to Mino-Ota, change to Nagaragawa Railway (~80 min to Gujo-Hachiman). Staying overnight or driving is realistic on all-night-dance nights.　Open directions in Google Maps ↗
Booking & entry
Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
Language
Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.

Getting there

Gujo-Hachiman castle town (Shinmachi-Hashimotomachi / Honmachi) — Hachiman-cho, Gujo City, Gifu (old castle town area)

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Japan-Event Editorial
  • Japan-based editorial team
  • Primary sources, cited
  • Variable facts dated

The Japan-Event editorial desk. We work from primary sources and date every claim that can change.