Akkeshi Summer Festival

Festival highlights

Highlights include dashi proceeding through town and a lion dance accompanied by bakabayashi music played on flutes and drums.

The bearers, led by Okame and Hyottoko, dance with vigor.

Dashi and lion dancers parade during the day, while the dashi gather for performances at night; you can also enjoy the sight of dashi illuminated against the night sky.

A traditional summer festival in Akkeshi, where dashi and lion dances come together

What to expect

During the festival, dashi and lion dancers parade through Akkeshi Town during the day, and the dashi gather for performances at night.

In the lion dance, two people, one playing the front legs and the other the hind legs, manipulate the lion as it dances to bakabayashi music played on flutes and drums.

Okame and Hyottoko lead the dance, offering a close-up view of a series of performances passed down through the town.

Source: 厚岸夏まつり | 観光イベント | 観光されるみなさまへ | 北海道厚岸町

How to take part

You can enjoy the festival by watching dashi and lion dancers parade through town, as well as the nighttime dashi performances.

演舞は担ぎ手や獅子舞の役者によって行われます。

Source: 第70回厚岸港まつり・第24回厚岸町民花火大会・第33回あっけし夏まつりのお知らせ | 町からのお知らせ | 北海道厚岸町

Location and access

Venue and address

Within Akkeshi Town (Akkeshi District, Hokkaido).

Train and bus

Get off at Akkeshi Station on the JR Hanasaki Line.

The journey from Kushiro Station takes about 50 minutes.

According to the information provided, it is about a 20-minute walk to the venue from JR Akkeshi Station.

Parking

There is no parking.

Address Akkeshi Town, Akkeshi District, Hokkaido

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The festival was held on July 4 (Saturday) and the 5th (Sunday) in 2026.

The dashi performances were scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kohoku area on the 4th, and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Konan area on the 5th.

It was noted that the schedule may change or the event may be canceled due to weather or other circumstances.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

According to the schedule, the 2026 dashi performances were set to take place in the Kohoku area on the 4th and the Konan area on the 5th.

If you plan to watch the nighttime performances, please check the area and schedule in advance.

The venues are spread throughout Akkeshi Town, and there is no parking, so it is best to plan to use public transportation, such as walking from JR Akkeshi Station.

Nearby attractions

Nearby attractions listed for Akkeshi Summer Festival include Aikappu Cape, Ayame-ga-hara Wild Flower Garden, Namida Cape, Kiritappu Wetland, Biwase Observatory, and Rururan Onsen.

You can plan an itinerary to visit capes, wetlands, and hot springs around Akkeshi Town along with the festival.

Please check local information for distances and travel times to each place.

Origins and History of Akkeshi Summer Festival

Akkeshi Summer Festival is said to have begun with the annual festivals of Akkeshi Shrine, founded over 200 years ago, and Shinryu Shrine, founded over 130 years ago.

The diary of Kokusai-ji Temple records a lion dance held at New Year in 1816.

The lion dance took its present form in the Meiji era and spread throughout the town following a major herring catch in the Showa 40s.

Since Heisei 5, it has been held as the Akkeshi Summer Festival at the start of the fishing season.

Official information

The official Akkeshi Town website provides information on the origins of Akkeshi Summer Festival, the features of its lion dance, when it is held, the venue, and transportation.

The 2026 event schedule and the areas and times for the dashi performances were also announced by Akkeshi Town.

Phone numbers for the Akkeshi Summer Festival Executive Committee and Akkeshi Town Hall are provided as contact information.

Akkeshi Summer Festival at a Glance

Akkeshi Summer Festival is a historic summer festival in which dashi and lion dancers parade through Akkeshi Town.

Highlights include the bakabayashi music played on flutes and drums, a lion dance led by Okame and Hyottoko, and nighttime dashi performances.

The festival carries on records of lion dances from 1816 and dances passed down since the Meiji era, and continues as a community event wishing for safe fishing and a good catch.