Join the dance circle: summer dancing in Gujo Hachiman
Gujo Odori
The 2026 edition of Gujo Odori has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/11 〜 2026/09/05Ended
- Season / frequency
- Mid-July to early September / Every year
- Location
- In Gujo Hachiman, Gujo City
- Area
- Gifu Prefecture・Gujo City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h–2 h 30 min · bullet train + connecting 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
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Gujo Odori, a tradition dating back about 420 years, takes place in Gujo Hachiman, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. This participatory summer welcomes both locals and visitors to join the dance circle.
About Gujo Odori
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 郡上市観光課 File:Gujo Odori2.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 郡上市観光課Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 丸山徹（虹博）http://kantan-blog.net/city/snap007/ File:Gujo01.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 丸山徹 作者本人が撮影。Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 丸山徹（虹博）http://kantan-blog.net/city/snap007/ File:Gujo3.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 丸山徹 作者本人が撮影。Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Gujo Odori is a Bon Odori held over about 2 months in summer in Gujo Hachiman, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture.
It has a history of about 420 years and is said to have been encouraged during the Edo period to promote social stability and harmony among the samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Rather than simply watching, locals and visitors dance together as participants. are the standard attire.
Source: 郡上二大おどり｜郡上満喫 郡上市観光連盟
Festival highlights
The main highlight is that you can join the same dance circle as locals and other visitors, rather than simply watching as a spectator.
10 dances have been passed down, including Sanbyaku, Harukoma, Yatchiku, Sawagi, Neko no Ko, Jinku, Koccho Kawasaki, and Matsusaka.
From August 13 through the 16th, all-night dancing continues until the following morning, offering a chance to experience a defining part of summer in Gujo Hachiman.
Join the dance circle: summer dancing in Gujo Hachiman
What to expect
At the venue, dancers follow the songs, raising their hands to the left and right, sweeping both hands, or forming a mountain shape with their hands, while keeping the rhythm with their feet.
The movements vary by song. For example, raise your right foot and clap 2 times, then lower your foot and clap 1 time.
Join the circle as you learn the different dances, and enjoy dancing through the night during the all-night dancing period.
How to take part
This event welcomes general visitors to join the dance circle.
Gujo Odori is described as a participatory Bon Odori where visitors dance alongside local residents.
There is no dress code, but yukata are considered the standard attire. If you plan to join the dancing, wearing comfortable clothes or a yukata will help you fit in with the local atmosphere.
Location and access
- Venue and address
In Gujo Hachiman, Gujo City.
The Opening Festival on July 11, 2026 is held at the Gujo Hachiman Former Government Office Memorial Hall, with traffic restrictions in the city center and surrounding areas.
- Train and bus
Special trains on the Nagaragawa Railway are scheduled to run during the all-night dancing period.
Free shuttle buses run from Hachiman Junior High School to Gujo Hachiman Jokamachi Plaza.
- By car
During the all-night dancing period, visitors are advised to use the bypass that runs outside the city center.
Traffic restrictions are in effect in the city center and surrounding areas from around 4 p.m. for the Opening Festival on July 11, 2026.
- Parking
Parking areas are provided at several locations in the city.
From August 13 through the 16th, information is provided on available and full spaces at temporary parking lots, and shuttle buses from Hachiman Junior High School are also available.
Source: 2026年 7月11日郡上おどり初日(発祥祭)の交通規制と駐車場のお知らせ | 【TABITABI郡上】 / 【26年度情報】郡上おどり(徹夜おどり)にご来場の方へお知らせ | 【TABITABI郡上】
Address In Gujo Hachiman, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Schedule (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Gujo Odori was listed as scheduled to run from the Opening Festival on July 11 through the final dance on September 5.
It does not take place every day; the schedule assigns a venue for each date.
In particular, the period from August 13 through the 16th is devoted to all-night dancing, which continues until morning.
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 Gifu Prefecture / Gujo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Crowds are expected in the city center during the all-night dancing period, and it may take time to pass through, so take care when traveling by car.
Temperatures remain high even at night, posing a risk of heatstroke, so visitors are advised to drink water regularly and take breaks.
There is no luggage storage service. Coin lockers are available at Gujo Hachiman Jokamachi Plaza, the Gujo Hachiman Former Government Office Memorial Hall, and the Machinami Exchange Hall.
Nearby attractions
At the Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan, you can watch Gujo Odori performances throughout the year.
Gujo Odori lessons are held at the Gujo Hachiman Former Government Office Memorial Hall, but reservations are required.
The venue for the 2026 Opening Festival was also listed as the Gujo Hachiman Former Government Office Memorial Hall, with facilities for learning about the festival and dance near the venue.
郡上八幡博覧館
日本の岐阜県郡上市にある博物館
郡上八幡城
岐阜県郡上市の城
Origins and History of Gujo Odori
Gujo Odori is a Bon Odori with a history of about 420 years.
It is said to have been encouraged during the Edo period to promote social stability and harmony among the samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and to have taken root in the region.
Today, local organizations such as preservation groups, neighborhood associations, and the chamber of commerce are involved in running the festival. Dance instruction is also provided at schools, and efforts are made to train successors.
Source: 郡上おどりの活動について | 郡上市 Gujo City
Official information
Information about the 2026 schedule can be found through the Gujo City Tourism Division.
The festival is organized primarily by the Gujo Odori Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the Gujo City Tourism Division, the tourism association, preservation groups, neighborhood associations, the chamber of commerce, and others.
Information on traffic restrictions, parking, and visitor guidance for the all-night dancing is also available from the official Gujo tourism website.
Source: 観光課 | 郡上市 Gujo City
Gujo Odori at a Glance
Gujo Odori is a Bon Odori with a history of about 420 years, where locals and visitors dance together in the streets of Gujo Hachiman.
In 2026, the festival was scheduled to run from the Opening Festival on July 11 through the final dance on September 5, with all-night dancing planned from August 13 through the 16th.
You can enjoy joining the dancing, but be prepared for the nighttime heat and crowds in the city center.
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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