Did you miss the Bon Odori dance festivals that happened in Tokyo across July and August? Not to worry because you can still make it to one last summer soiree at the Yokai Bon Odori in Tachikawa. Held over the October 12-14 weekend, this unique event is themed after yokai, the supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. These stories have been passed down from the olden days, just like the Bon Odori tradition.
Aside from dancers dressed in yokai costumes, the festival will also feature live sets by DJ Towa Tei (Oct 12), indie j-pop solo artist Xiangyu (Oct 13), producer Zombie-chang (Oct 14) and many more. As with all Japanese festivals, you can expect to see family-friendly activities and games like target shooting, yo-yo fishing, character masks and face painting, as well as food stalls to keep you well-fed and satisfied.
The festival’s food and activity area is open to the public for free, but the stage performance area requires a ¥3,500 entry fee, which can be purchased in advance via the website. Make sure to dress as a yokai or in yukata if you plan to attend, and get a free yokai face paint at the Yokai Food Stall Village. More details on the dress code here.