Kōchi Yosakoi Festival
よさこい祭り · Kōchi
The 'youngest national festival', born in 1954: dancers hold naruko clappers, with music and costumes completely free, and about 200 teams dance their way through the streets of Kōchi — a red-hot southern summer carnival. In recent years more than 200 teams have taken part each year, making it Shikoku's most energetic summer event.
Know before you go
- Taboos: saying it's 'much the same as Awa Odori' (Kōchi people will earnestly point out that their origins are completely different), and blocking cameras or the way during performances.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
It was created after the war to revive the shopping streets and dispel the economic gloom; the name means 'yosa koi' ('come tonight'), drawing on the Tosa folk song 'Yosakoi-bushi'. There are only two rules: hold naruko, and include the 'Yosakoi Naruko Odori' melody in the music. It has since spread into a nationwide YOSAKOI movement — a model 'post-war revival festival' and a symbol of Kōchi identity.
Local customs
- Don't enter the competition course while teams are dancing
- make way for dancers' 'nagashi' (procession) routes
- don't touch the naruko
- you can cheer with calls such as 'Yotchore'
- take your rubbish with you — Kōchi people care a lot about keeping the city clean. Fan-style support for famous teams is part of local culture, and enthusiastic participation is welcome.
Religion & beliefs
- It has almost no religious background — a post-war civic revival festival
- Kōchi, where it was born, is still the heartland of YOSAKOI culture nationwide. The opening and competitions are often held at historic places such as Kōchi Castle, giving it a local festive flavour, but in essence it's a secular civic carnival without Shinto rites.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
Taboos: saying it's 'much the same as Awa Odori' (Kōchi people will earnestly point out that their origins are completely different), and blocking cameras or the way during performances.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals are proud of their teams' original choreography and support famous teams (such as Jūnin Toiro and Honiya) like fans
- Kōchi people are open-hearted and interact warmly with the dancers, so the atmosphere is very open
Plan your visit
Practical info
| 2026 dates | August 9 – 12, 2026 |
|---|
Travel tips
- The best viewing spots are the main Otesuji competition venue and the Obiyamachi venue (with sponsor seating)
- the eve festival on 9 August in Central Park is free
- roads around competition venues close from daytime
- accommodation is extremely scarce during the festival, so book early
- from JR Kōchi Station take the tram to Ōhashi-dōri or Kōchi-jō-mae. [to verify]
2026 schedule
- 9 August (Sun, eve festival) – 12 August (Wed) 2026 [to verify]
- the main days are 10–11 August, with the national contest and after-festival on 12 August
- this is the 73rd festival
- held every year on fixed dates, 9–12 August
- 2027 dates are yet to be announced. Sources: RKC Kōchi Broadcasting (decided at the promotion association's 2026 general meeting), TV Kōchi live-broadcast listings.
Maps & transport notes
- Search Google Maps for 'Kōchi Central Park' (高知市中央公園) for the eve-festival venue, and 'Otesuji' for the main competition venue. From JR Kōchi Station take the Tosaden tram to 'Ōhashi-dōri' or 'Kōchi-jō-mae'
- the city centre is compact and several venues can be linked on foot.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Katsuo no tataki (seared bonito)
- Sawachi ryōri (platter feast)
- Imo-ten (sweet-potato tempura)
Yatai snacks, katsuo no tataki (bonito seared over burning straw), sawachi ryōri (great banquet platters, at restaurants), imo-ten (sweet-potato tempura snack), yuzu drinks / shaved ice
| Where to eat | Restaurants and yatai around Harimaya Bridge / the Obiyamachi shopping street, by Kōchi Station |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Don't eat and block the routes of the dance teams (and their jikata trucks); naruko are dance props — don't pick them up; take rubbish home |
| Typical price per person | Yatai + main meal JPY 2,500–4,000 ≈ CNY 113–180 |
| Tips | Famous bonito restaurants have queues during the festival; sawachi at lunch needs several people or a booking. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0
Photos
Photos
工房 やまもも · CC BY 2.0
Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources & verification notes
RKC Kōchi Broadcasting and TV Kōchi 2026 information, researched and verified on 2026-10-16. The 2027 schedule has not yet been announced.
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