Highlights
- 200+ teams, ~18,000 dancers with naruko clappers
- Styles from traditional to rock and hip-hop
- Aug 9 preview, Aug 10–11 main, Aug 12 national competition
Background & story
Launched in 1954 to lift Kochi's spirits and economy after the war, it gave birth to the yosakoi dance movement that spread nationwide.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 10 min walk from JR Kochi Station, or via the Horizume tram stop. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Free to watch on the streets; paid reserved (shaded) seats sold for the main venues.. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, music fans, groups of friends
Good to know
August in Kochi is brutally hot — buy a shaded reserved seat at the Otesuji main venue and bring water.
Getting there
Streets and plazas across Kochi City (main stage: Otesuji Avenue & Central Park) — Otesuji, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture