Ohara Festival

おはら祭

Troupes in festival coats and summer kimono dance their way along the streetcar avenue through Tenmonkan, the heart of Kagoshima, to the folk songs Ohara-bushi and Kagoshima Hanya-bushi, in what the city calls the largest festival in southern Kyūshū. It began in 1949 to mark the city’s 60th anniversary. Held every year on 2 November (the evening festival) and 3 November, Culture Day (the main festival).

2–3 November 2026

1 days away

Every year, 2 November, for 2 days

Future dates: 2 November 2026 · 2 November 2027 · 2 November 2028

Origin

According to the festival’s organising association, it began in 1949 to mark the 60th anniversary of Kagoshima becoming a city. At first the centrepiece was a costume parade of decorated cars. In 1952, at the third festival, held for the 75th anniversary of the death of Saigō Takamori, a parade of dancers to the folk song Ohara-bushi was added, and from the eleventh festival in 1961 it took its present form, with troupes of dancers moving along the streetcar avenue. The association describes its purpose as recreation for the city’s residents and the promotion of its tourism and commerce.

What to look for

In the mass dancing, troupe after troupe fills about 1.5 km of the streetcar avenue. In 2025 some 80 groups and 5,250 dancers took part in the evening festival and some 140 groups and 11,200 dancers in the main festival, about 16,500 dancers over the two days. They dance to Ohara-bushi, Kagoshima Hanya-bushi and Shibuya Ondo. Between the rounds of dancing, women drummers compete in the Ogojo Taiko (ogojo is the local word for a woman). In 2026 the main festival is in four parts, ending with Ohara 21, a dance to an up-tempo version of Ohara-bushi. Anyone can join in: there is a walk-in troupe during the mass dancing on the evening of the 2nd and in parts one and three of the main festival, free, with no need to sign up and no dress code. In 2026 a flower-decked streetcar, playing Ohara-bushi and other songs, runs from 21 October to 3 November.

How to watch

The troupes dance down both sides of the streetcar avenue, with the grassed tram tracks between them. The Ohara-bushi dance depicts the shape of Sakurajima, the volcano across the bay, and its smoke; the organisers’ guidebook has illustrated steps. Walk-in dancers join from set points, such as where the mass dancing turns back. They may not carry placards, banners or instruments, join as a group, or wear anything that advertises a company or organisation. Flying drones over the festival is not allowed. The festival goes ahead in light rain; if it is called off, the decision is made by 3 p.m. on the day for the evening festival and by 7 a.m. for the main festival, and announced on television and radio. Follow the barriers and the directions of the security staff, and do not touch the flower-decked streetcar. There is no parking at the festival.

If you go

The festival takes place along the streetcar avenue through Tenmonkan in Kagoshima, from Takamibaba to Izuro and Sanbashi-dōri. In 2026 the evening festival runs from 6:50 to 8:20 p.m. on Monday 2 November, and the main festival from 10:20 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. on Tuesday 3 November, a public holiday. Roads are closed from 6 to 9 p.m. on the 2nd and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 3rd; during those hours streetcars do not run between Takamibaba and Kagoshima Station, and city buses are rerouted between Takamibaba and Shiyakusho-mae (2026). From Kagoshima-Chūō Station, take the streetcar to Takamibaba stop, a short walk from the festival.

Where

Tenmonkan streetcar avenue (Takamibaba to Izuro and Sanbashi-dōri)

Kagoshima

Open in maps

Sources

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