Uraja Festival

うらじゃ

A two-day dance festival in central Okayama. Its theme is Ura, the ogre of the Momotarō legend; dance teams in ogre-like face paint perform at stages and in parades, and the festival closes with the sō-odori, in which dancers and spectators dance together. A weekend in August after the Bon holidays.

21–22 August 2027

ExpectedWorked out from past dates. We update it once the organiser announces the dates.

291 days away

Every year, the first Saturday on or after 17 August, for 2 days

Future dates: 21 August 2027 · 19 August 2028 · 18 August 2029

Origin

Uraja began in 1994 as a spark for building the town and its community, and it is run almost entirely by volunteers. Its subject, Ura, comes from a legend said to underlie the Momotarō folk tale, in which Ura is an ogre defeated by Prince Kibitsuhiko. The official site also tells another version, in which Ura came from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, brought ironmaking and other skills and made the land of Kibi prosperous, and the festival takes “living together in harmony” as its theme.

What to look for

The highlight is the sō-odori on the evening of the second day, when dancers, spectators and backstage crews dance together for about an hour. It is said to send Ura’s spirit back to the heavens, and about 10,000 people take part. During the day, teams perform at stages around the city centre and parade through the shopping arcade and along Shiyakusho-suji avenue. Ogre-style ura-geshō face paint is the festival’s signature; in 2025, 82 teams and about 3,300 dancers took part.

The 31st Uraja, 2026 (Uraja TV, official channel on YouTube)

How to watch

Anyone can join the sō-odori, but because many children take part, you must hold nothing in your hands inside the dance zones, and cameras are not allowed there. Take photos from the spectator areas; walking alongside a parade to film it is forbidden, and drones are banned. At the end of the festival the dancers pick up litter of their own accord before going home.

If you go

The venues are spread across the city centre from Okayama Station to Omotechō. You can have ogre face paint done for free at the ura-geshō booths (the more elaborate brush painting costs extra, 2026). There is no festival car park and roads are closed on the day, so use public transport. It is high summer, so drink water often and prepare for the heat.

Where

Central Okayama (Shimoishii Park and other venues)

Okayama

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Sources

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