Gujo Odori Dance Festival 2025

Event date:
July 12, 2025 at 2:18 am
Event end:
September 6, 2025 at 2:18 am

📍 Location: Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Prefecture
📅 Date: Mid-July to Early September 2025 (Exact dates TBA)
🕺 All-night dancing: July 12– September 6 (Obon period)

Dance Through the Night at One of Japan’s Most Famous Festivals!

The Gujo Odori Dance Festival is one of Japan’s oldest and longest-running Bon Odori (Bon dance) festivals, dating back over 400 years. Held in the charming castle town of Gujo Hachiman, this two-month-long festival invites locals and visitors alike to dance in the streets every night, preserving a rich cultural tradition.

The festival reaches its peak during Obon (August 13–16), when dancing continues all night in the spirit of honoring ancestors. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, everyone is welcome to join in!

🎶 Festival Highlights

✔ Nightly Bon Odori Dances – Over 30 nights of dancing throughout summer, with locals in traditional yukata (summer kimono).
✔ Live Traditional Music – Enjoy taiko drums, shamisen, and flutes, played by musicians on a central yagura stage.
✔ Authentic Cultural Experience – Learn ten unique Gujo Odori dance styles, each with its own music and movements.
✔ Obon All-Night Dancing (July 12– September 6) – Dance from sunset to sunrise in the most exciting part of the festival!
✔ Food Stalls & Local Delicacies – Try Hida beef skewers, ayu grilled fish, and Gujo’s famous water tofu.

🏯 What Makes Gujo Odori Special?

🎭 Anyone Can Join: Unlike many festivals where performers are separate from spectators, here, everyone is a dancer!
🕰 400+ Years of History: A tradition passed down since the Edo period, meant to bring the town together.
🏡 Traditional Town Setting: Dance through the scenic streets of Gujo Hachiman, a town known for its clear rivers and historic architecture.
🎵 Ten Unique Dance Styles: From the lively “Kawasaki” to the elegant “Harukoma,” each song tells a different story.

📌 Best Things to Do at Gujo Odori

✔ Join the Dance! Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps—locals will teach you as you go.
✔ Explore Gujo Hachiman: Visit Gujo Hachiman Castle, old merchant streets, and the famous crystal-clear Yoshida River.
✔ Try Local Cuisine: Savor Gujo miso, river fish, and fresh mountain vegetables.
✔ Buy a Yukata & Get Dressed Up: Many shops sell or rent traditional yukata so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience.

🎯 Tips for Visitors

✔ Wear Comfortable Shoes – Expect to dance for hours on stone-paved streets!
✔ Arrive Early for Obon Nights – The August 13–16 dances are the most crowded, so secure your spot early.
✔ Stay in a Local Ryokan or Minshuku – Accommodations fill up fast—book early!
✔ Use Public Transport – Gujo Hachiman is accessible by train and bus from Nagoya (about 2 hours).

🎟 A Must-Experience Japanese Summer Festival!

Whether you’re a dance enthusiast, history lover, or just looking for an authentic Japanese cultural experience, the Gujo Odori Dance Festival is not to be missed. Feel the rhythm, join the locals, and dance beneath the summer sky in one of Japan’s most exciting and immersive festivals!