You must carry with you your return or onward ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay. Japan operated a visa waiver scheme for visitors from 56 different countries, including the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia and New Zealand, provided you are staying for no more than 90 days. Stalls and fairs line both sides of the Shinmachi River the parties rage well into the night, particularly on the last day of the festival. After the official presentations everyone is welcome to join in the dancing. Dressed in yukata (cotton summer kimonos), participants form an arm waving, feet shuffling procession, playing traditional musical instruments as they go. Over the four days of the festival around 990 different community dance groups known as ren put on dance displays between about 6pm and 9pm. In Tokushima City, most of the action happens along the city’s main drag. Yet their legislation was unable to subdue the joyous spirit of the people, and the tradition lived on. The feudal government of the time, afraid that the gatherings could easily turn into a mob that would try and oust them from power, imposed restrictions on Awa Odori. Once they had recovered from their hangovers it was decided to make it an annual event. His guests got so drunk that they began to dance, arms and legs flailing about all over the place. In 1587 a feudal overlord decided to throw a party to celebrate the completion of his new castle. In Tokushima the departed are welcomed back with a performance of the Dance of the Fools, which dates back more than 400 years. Dates for the DiaryĪwa Odori is held annually in Tokushima City between August 12 and 15.Īwa Odori takes place during the Buddhist observance of O-bon, when the spirits of the dead are thought to return to their ancestral homes. The largest celebrations are held in the city of Tokushima itself.
#2020 awa dance festival how to
How To Guide taken from the book Great Festivals of the World Where’s the Party?Īwa Odori is a dance which takes place in various locations throughout the prefecture of Tokushima in Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands that comprise the Japanese archipelago. What’s it about: Dance of drunken fools turned serious tourist attraction
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