Highlights
- Opening-night Doshin Fireworks Festival over Hakodate Bay on 1 August - in 2026 it ran 19:45-20:50, launched from Midori-no-shima island, with 5 August as the rain date
- 'Wasshoi Hakodate' parades with the Ika Odori squid dance - 2 August on the Jujigai-Matsukaze course, 3 August on the Chiyogadai-Goryokaku course; in 2026 both ran 16:30-21:30, with 4 August as the rain date
- Anyone can join the Ika Odori: the squid dance closes each night's parade and is open to the public
- Held on the same dates every year (1-5 August), so the 2027 edition is 1-5 August 2027
Background & story
First held in 1935, when Hakodate marked the 77th anniversary of the opening of its port together with the first anniversary of the city's recovery from the Great Hakodate Fire of 1934. The 'Ika Odori' squid dance that now defines the parade came much later: it was created around 1980 by a volunteer group of Hakodate residents, the Ika Odori Executive Committee, and joined the Port Festival in 1981.
Hakodate Port Festival 2026 is Hokkaido's big summer celebration, held 1–5 August 2026 along the central Hakodate waterfront, and it's free. It opens with a fireworks show over the bay on the night of 1 August (about 19:45–21:00) and is famous for the "Ika Odori" squid dance that fills the streets. Here are the verified dates, the fireworks and parade details, and how to plan your night.
2026 dates & what happens
- When: Saturday 1 – Wednesday 5 August 2026.
- 1 Aug — opening fireworks: the Doshin Fireworks Festival, roughly 19:45–21:00, with wide star-mines and underwater fireworks set to music over Hakodate Bay.
- 2–3 Aug — Wasshoi Hakodate parade & the Ika Odori: the famous squid dance processions wind through downtown — the Jujigai–Matsukaze course (~1.4 km) on 2 Aug and the Chiyogadai–Goryokaku course (~1 km) on 3 Aug. Anyone can join in the squid dance on the day.
- Stalls and street events run across all five days.
Where it is & how to get there
- Where: the central Hakodate waterfront, downtown Hakodate, Hokkaido.
- Access: about 5 minutes' walk from JR Hakodate Station — most of the action is within easy reach.
Why go
Held since 1935 to mark the reopening of the port, this is the city's signature summer event. The smartest plan: catch the opening fireworks on 1 August, then ride up for the world-famous Mt. Hakodate night view — two of Hokkaido's best night sights in one evening.
Tips
Arrive early on 1 August for a waterfront spot; the bayfront fills up fast. Confirm the year's programme on the official site before you travel.
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
Good to know
The 2026 edition finished on 5 August 2026. Because Hakodate holds the festival on the same calendar dates every year - 1 to 5 August - the 2027 edition falls on Sunday 1 to Thursday 5 August 2027, which puts the opening fireworks on a Sunday night and the squid-dance parades on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 August. Arrive early on 1 August for a waterfront spot, then ride up for the Mt. Hakodate night view. The detailed programme is normally published on the official site in early summer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Hakodate Port Festival 2026 over?
- Yes. The 2026 edition ran 1-5 August 2026 and finished on 5 August.
- When is the Hakodate Port Festival 2027?
- 1-5 August 2027, Sunday to Thursday. Hakodate's official tourism site states the festival is held every year from August 1 to 5, so the dates are fixed even before the year's programme is published.
- When are the Hakodate Port Festival fireworks?
- On the opening day, 1 August. In 2026 the Doshin Fireworks Festival ran 19:45-20:50, launched from Midori-no-shima island in Hakodate Bay, with 5 August held as the rain date.
- What is Ika Odori?
- Hakodate's squid dance, and a modern invention rather than a pre-war tradition: it was created around 1980 by the Ika Odori Executive Committee, a volunteer group of Hakodate residents, and joined the Port Festival in 1981. It now closes each night of the Wasshoi Hakodate parade on 2-3 August, and spectators are welcome to join in on the day.
- Is the Hakodate Port Festival free to attend?
- Yes. There is no ticket, and the waterfront festival area is about a 5-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station.
Getting there
Central Hakodate waterfront — Central Hakodate City, Hokkaido