# Awa Odori

> Japan's largest dance festival, when around a hundred thousand dancers take over Tokushima for four nights in August.

- Prefecture: Tokushima
- Type: Dance
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: Held every year from 12 to 15 August.
- Official site: https://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/

## Dates

- 2027-08-12 to 2027-08-15
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-08-20 from https://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/

Awa Odori is danced by teams called ren, each with its own colours, musicians and style, and the whole city turns into their stage. The steps are simple enough to describe in a sentence: right hand and right foot forward together, then left and left, at a pace set by the shamisen and taiko behind. Doing it for four hours in August heat is the hard part. Paid stands line the main avenues, but the free street corners are where the ren pass close enough that you hear the feet as well as the drums, and late in the evening visitors are pulled in to join the niwaka-ren.

## Where it happens
- Tokushima
- Awa Odori Kaikan

## FAQ

### When is Awa Odori held?

From 12 to 15 August every year, in Tokushima city. Dancing runs through the evening on each of the four nights.

### Can I see Awa Odori outside August?

Yes. The Awa Odori Kaikan in Tokushima runs performances year round, which is a good substitute if your trip does not fall in August.

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Source: Awa Odori — Japan Voyage