An autumn hometown festival featuring tanuki legends and Tokushima performing arts
Awa no Tanuki Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Early November / Every year
- Location
- Aibahama Park
- Area
- Tokushima Prefecture・Tokushima City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 15 min–1 h 35 min · flight time only)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.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Against the backdrop of tanuki legends, this autumn festival brings together the best of Tokushima, including Awa Odori, ningyo joruri puppet theater, and local specialty products for sale.
About Awa no Tanuki Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Tamago915 File:Raccoondog festival in awa 2006.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Original PhotographDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Awa no Tanuki Festival is an autumn community event that began with the aim of giving people a chance to experience the charms of Tokushima.
The name incorporates tanuki, against the backdrop of legends passed down in Tokushima.
Centered on Aibahama Park, it is a popular event where visitors can enjoy Tokushima’s specialty products and traditional performing arts.
Source: 阿波の狸まつり - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
At the special stage in Aibahama Park, visitors can enjoy performances connected with Tokushima, including karaoke contests, Awa Odori, and ningyo joruri puppet theater.
Specialty products from municipalities across Tokushima Prefecture are also sold, so you can enjoy stage performances and browse local products in one visit.
The appearance of staff in tanuki costumes is another highlight typical of this festival.
An autumn hometown festival featuring tanuki legends and Tokushima performing arts
What to expect
At the venue, you can watch stage performances and experience Tokushima’s traditional performing arts and locally rooted stage traditions.
Specialty products from across the prefecture are sold at Tokushima Prefectural Local Culture Hall, where you can browse the venue for local flavors and products.
Staff performances featuring tanuki motifs add to the festival atmosphere.
How to take part
Visitors can enjoy stage performances and specialty product sales, but whether members of the public can take part in performances depends on the information provided for each year’s festival.
In 2026, related events including Awa Odori are planned for Aibahama Park.
Source: 徳島おどりフェスタ2026の開催について｜徳島県ホームページ
Location and access
- Venue and address
Aibahama Park and Tokushima Prefectural Local Culture Hall.
Related events in 2026 are planned for Aibahama Park.
- Train and bus
About a 5-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station.
Event venue 徳島県徳島市 藍場浜公園
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
The Awa no Tanuki Festival is usually held in early November.
In 2026, events including Awa Odori are planned for October 31 at the “Furusato Carnival: Awa no Tanuki Festival” venue in Aibahama Park.
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 Tokushima Prefecture / Tokushima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The schedule for events at Aibahama Park on October 31, 2026 has not yet been announced.
If you are visiting for a particular stage performance or related event, check the day’s schedule so you can plan accordingly.
Awa Odori and other performances take place at the venue, so allow plenty of time to find a good viewing spot and move between areas.
Nearby attractions
とくしま動物園
徳島県の動物園・水族館のスポットです。
徳島中央公園
徳島県徳島市の徳島城跡を利用した公園
徳島城
徳島県徳島市の城
徳島市立徳島城博物館
徳島県徳島市にある博物館
徳島市立考古資料館
徳島県徳島市国府町西矢野にある資料館
写真：Sorrysorry at Japanese Wikipedia / Public domain
Photo source ·
徳島眉山天神社
徳島県徳島市にある神社
徳島県文化の森総合公園
徳島県徳島市八万町の向寺山にある公園
徳島県立博物館
徳島県徳島市の文化の森総合公園にある博物館
徳島県立文学書道館
徳島県徳島市中前川町にある文学館
徳島県立近代美術館
徳島県徳島市の文化の森総合公園にある美術館
徳島県立鳥居龍蔵記念博物館
徳島県徳島市の文化の森総合公園にある博物館
徳島県郷土文化会館
徳島市にある文化施設
Origins and History of Awa no Tanuki Festival
The first Awa no Tanuki Festival was held in 1978.
It began as an event to give people a chance to experience the charms of their hometown, and has become a festival that brings color to autumn in Tokushima.
The festival’s name draws on the many tanuki legends passed down in Tokushima, as well as stories such as “The Tanuki War of Awa.”
Awa no Tanuki Festival at a Glance
The Awa no Tanuki Festival takes its name from Tokushima’s tanuki legends. This autumn festival offers traditional performing arts such as Awa Odori and ningyo joruri puppet theater, as well as specialty products from across the prefecture.
The main venue is Aibahama Park, about a 5-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station.
2026年は10月31日に関連企画が予定されています。
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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