Tsukiji Hongwanji Bon Odori
Photo: Tsukiji HongwanjiTsukiji Hongwanji Bon Odori
Photo: Tsukiji Hongwanji

7 best summer Bon Odori festivals happening in Tokyo 2024

Japanese folk dance Bon Odori is performed on the streets in summer. Here's where to partake in this communal experience

Lim Chee Wah
Contributor: Shota Nagao
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One of the most iconic summer festivals in Tokyo, Bon Odori is a communal dance performed in public spaces. It's a Buddhist custom that dates back 500 years, held as part of the Obon period, where locals honour the spirits of their ancestors.

Bon Odori festivals are always a fun, joyous affair. A makeshift stage known as a yagura will be set up in the middle, acting as the focal point of the event. It houses the lead dancers and musicians who set the pace and choreography for the dance while participants gather around it and dance along in circles.

It's a perfect way to spend a summer evening and soak up the good vibes. So put on a yukata and come join us at one of Tokyo's most exciting Bon Odori festivals this summer.

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