Held in mid-August

August in Japan is the momentous time of Obon, when the spirits of those who have died temporarily return to earth and ancestors are invited back into homes. To celebrate, a dance known as Bon Odori is done in different temples all over Japan and it is a colorful and vibrant dance that also spills onto the streets and grown into big festivals. Awa Odori is a specialty of this dance, born in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku 400 years ago.

Although Tokushima is a remote area, Awa Odori has become the biggest traditional dance festival in Japan and draws over a million visitors every summer. This highly sought-after event is primarily held in the evening as dancers take to the streets after sunset. This is, at the core a humorous and fun competition between teams. Each team has its own costume combining a Yukata, cotton summer kimono and iconic ami gasa straw hat.