Hakodate Port Festival 2026: Fireworks, Squid Dance & Dates
Hakodate Port Festival 2026 (Aug 1–5): free Hokkaido summer festival with opening-night bay fireworks on Aug 1 and the famous Ika Odori squid dance Aug 2–3. Dates, times, access.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/08/01 19:45 – 2026/08/05
- Where
- Central Hakodate waterfront（Central Hakodate City, Hokkaido）
- City
- Across Japan
- Getting there
- About 5 minutes' walk from JR Hakodate Station.
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Hakodate Port Festival Organizing Committee
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 5 minutes' walk from JR Hakodate Station. 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.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families
Highlights
- Opening-night fireworks over the bay on Aug 1
- The famous 'Ika Odori' squid dance parades
- Five days of street processions and stalls
Background & story
Held since 1935 to mark the reopening of the port, the festival is famous for the 'Ika Odori' squid dance performed through the streets.
Good to know
Pair the opening fireworks with the famous night view from Mt. Hakodate.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Hakodate Port Festival 2026?
- August 1-5, 2026, along Hakodate's central waterfront. Opening-night fireworks over the bay run on Aug 1 (about 19:45-21:00), and the famous Ika Odori squid-dance parades take over the streets Aug 2-3.
- Is the Hakodate Port Festival free to attend?
- Yes, it's free. The waterfront festival area is about a 5-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station.
- What is Ika Odori?
- The festival's signature squid dance, performed through Hakodate's streets since 1935, when the parade began to mark the port's reopening.