A summer dance that connects temple and community, with Bon songs echoing after the chanting
Chotokuji Bon Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Early August / Every year
- Location
- Chotokuji Temple
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Sagamihara City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Chotokuji is a summer event in Oshima, Midori Ward, Sagamihara, where local Bon songs are danced after the Heart Sutra is chanted.
About Chotokuji Bon Odori
Chotokuji Bon Odori is a local Bon Odori event held on the grounds of Chotokuji Temple in Oshima, Midori Ward, Sagamihara.
A distinctive feature is that the dancing begins after the head priest chants the Heart Sutra. The dances center on the Bon songs “Chotokuji Bon Uta” and “Osawa Koshinka.”
The event was started by the head priest at the time in the early Showa period to encourage residents struggling through economic hardship, and it has been passed down as a community event in Kami-Oshima.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the distinctive sequence: after the Heart Sutra is chanted on the temple grounds, the event moves on to Bon Odori.
The dances center on “Chotokuji Bon Uta” and “Osawa Koshinka,” bringing the temple setting together with local songs.
It began in the early Showa period to encourage residents and is now regarded as a major event in Kami-Oshima.
A summer dance that connects temple and community, with Bon songs echoing after the chanting
What to expect
The event begins with the head priest chanting the Heart Sutra on the grounds of Chotokuji Temple, followed by Bon Odori.
The dances center on “Chotokuji Bon Uta” and “Osawa Koshinka.”
The fact that sutra chanting at the temple and the community’s Bon Odori form one continuous sequence shapes the character of Chotokuji Bon Odori.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Chotokuji Temple, 756 Oshima, Midori Ward, Sagamihara
- Train and bus
From the south exit of Hashimoto Station on the JR Yokohama Line, take a bus bound for Kami-Oshima to the last stop, “Kami-Oshima,” then walk about 10 minutes.
Address 756 Oshima, Midori Ward, Sagamihara
Dates and season
The 2025 notice says the event is scheduled to begin at around 6 p.m. on August 2 (Saturday).
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kanagawa Prefecture / Sagamihara City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
亀ヶ池八幡宮
神奈川県相模原市中央区にある神社
氷川神社
神奈川県相模原市中央区にある神社
神明大神宮
神奈川県相模原市緑区にある神社
Origins and History of Chotokuji Bon Odori
Chotokuji Bon Odori is said to have been started by the head priest of Chotokuji Temple at the time, in the early Showa period, to encourage local residents who were struggling through economic hardship.
After several interruptions and revivals, it has been held annually in early August since Heisei 2.
It is now established as a major community event in Kami-Oshima.
Official information
Contact: Sagamihara City Board of Education, Cultural Properties Protection Division
Chotokuji Bon Odori at a Glance
Chotokuji Bon Odori is a local event held on the grounds of Chotokuji Temple, where participants dance to “Chotokuji Bon Uta” and “Osawa Koshinka” after the Heart Sutra is chanted.
It began in the early Showa period to encourage residents and, after interruptions and revivals, has been held annually in early August since Heisei 2.
It is a Bon Odori event that brings the temple and local community together.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
