Ultimate Guide to Awa Odori Festival 2024 in Tokushima: Dates, Highlights, and More!

The Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima is one of Japan’s most iconic cultural events, known primarily for its vibrant dance parades and festive atmosphere that exudes positivity. Held annually in Tokushima City on Japan’s Shikoku Island, the festival is set to light up the summer of 2024 with its traditional street dance celebration known locally as the “fools’ dance”. Celebrated during the Obon holiday, an annual Buddhist event of ancestral commemoration, the streets come alive with participants and spectators merging in a wave of energy and joyous chants.

Traveling to Tokushima for the vibrant Awa Odori Festival can be an adventure in itself, as Tokushima isn’t the most frequented of prefectures. For those journeying from Tokyo or Osaka, the trip can involve a mix of bullet trains, local lines, and buses to reach the heart of the festivities.

If you’re starting in Tokyo, your best bet is to board the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama. Once there, you’ll transition to a rapid service train for Takamatsu, followed by a local or limited express train that will deliver you to Tokushima, where the festival awaits. Another option is taking a flight from Haneda Airport.

Those venturing from Osaka have a shorter trip. A bullet train will whisk you to Okayama, and from there, similar train changes will ensure you arrive at the festival’s doorstep.

For night travelers, direct buses from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station are a convenient option, providing a seamless journey to Tokushima while you sleep. Osaka residents can hop on a bus from Namba Station straight to the city.

The festival itself centers around Tokushima Station, stretching its celebratory arms from the Awa Odori Kaikan in the west to the City Town Hall in the east. This area becomes the canvas for the energetic dance parades that define the Awa Odori, its streets bustling with participants and spectators alike.

The Awa Odori Festival boasts a rich history of over 400 years. Originating in Tokushima, once known as Awa Province, this festival embodies the region's cultural spirit. Celebrated during the Obon holiday, a time of year dedicated to honoring the spirits of one’s ancestors, Awa Odori has become one of Japan's most famous dance festivals and is easily the most popular festival in the region.

The festival's name combines "Awa", the old feudal name of Tokushima Prefecture, and "Odori", meaning dance. The Awa Odori dance is distinctive, with different styles for men and women, and is performed by thousands of dancers across the streets of Tokushima. It’s characterized by the rhythmic movements and spirited participation of both professional festival dancers and local visitors. The lively and often improvised dancing is accompanied by traditional instruments, with participants chanting and singing as they move in procession.

As for the dance's origin, there are competing theories about its historical conception:

Castle Construction Theory: It is proposed that the dance began as a festivity commemorating the completion of Tokushima Castle, as ordered by feudal lord Hachisuka Iemasa in the late 16th century.

Furyu Dance Theory: Influences from the Furyu dance, a possible precursor to the Japanese performing art of Noh Theater, are thought to have shaped the Awa Odori.

Obon Dance Theory: Aligning with the Obon Festival, which honors ancestral spirits, the timing of the Awa Odori suggests a connection. This observance period might have naturally given rise to distinctive styles of celebratory dances that define the Awa Odori today.

Regardless of their historical origins, the Awa Odori and the Awa Odori Festival have undoubtedly shaped their own unique identities, becoming much more than the sum of their parts and an integral facet of the local culture.

Annually, the dance festivals kick off in Naruto City on August 9, marking the onset of a series of events across the prefecture. The crescendo of this festive celebration is the grand festival in Tokushima City, celebrated from August 12 to 15, drawing crowds from across Japan and the wider globe.

During the Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima, the daytime is characterized by more subdued celebrations and parades featuring reserved and graceful dance. However, as the sun sets, the energy transforms, the pace of the dancers picks up, and the atmosphere becomes electric.

Songs and chants are also an integral part of the festival, with the most famous chant beckoning spectators to join in the “fools’ dance”. This is encapsulated in the festival's motto: “It's a fool who dances and a fool who watches! If both are fools, then you may as well have fun dancing!” This light-hearted philosophy encourages everyone to join in, whether they're skilled dancers or just there to enjoy the moment.

Men's and women's dances differ in style, with women performing more restrained and graceful movements. However, it has become more common for women to dance in the men's style. Some groups also showcase a kite dance, featuring an acrobatic solo dancer supported by others who mimic the movements of a kite's string. This dance can include cartwheels and somersaults, adding a dynamic visual element to the procession.

While the festival's scheduled parades wrap up during the night, the festivities continue. Visitors and locals often find themselves swept up in the celebratory atmosphere, indulging in dancing, drinks, and food into the early morning hours.

Booking accommodation early is crucial as the festival attracts over a million visitors. With so much to offer, the Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima is an event not to be missed, especially for those wishing to experience Japan's authentic and laid-back side.

Visitors to the Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima can complement their trip by exploring nearby attractions that offer a taste of the region’s rich culture and natural beauty:

Onaruto Bridge Whirlpool Walk

Experiencing a blend of marvelous engineering and natural wonder, the Onaruto Bridge offers an up-close view of the world’s largest whirlpools beneath. A walk along this bridge is not just visually striking, but also an educational journey into this unique marine phenomenon.

Iya Valley

Although not in the immediate vicinity, for those extending their trip in Tokushima, the secluded Iya Valley offers a retreat into one of Japan’s most picturesque landscapes. It’s known as one of the great hidden hot springs of Japan, providing a relaxing escape surrounded by nature.

Hotel Sunroute Tokushima offers a strategic location for those looking to immerse themselves in the Awa Odori Festival. Its proximity to the festivities means guests can fully engage in the night's revelries without worrying about a long journey back to their accommodation.

The hotel also ensures a comfortable stay with a wide variety of amenities. It boasts rooms equipped with modern necessities like free Wi-Fi and a cozy bed to ensure a restful sleep after a lively night out. Additionally, guests can relax and rejuvenate in the hotel's natural hot spring, a luxurious way to soothe tired muscles. With its convenience and comfort, Hotel Sunroute Tokushima is an excellent choice for those visiting Tokushima and the Awa Odori Festival.