Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival

Festival highlights

A highlight is the dance parade, with dancers wearing fox, okame, and hyottoko masks and red kimono.

The dancers sway and twist their bodies as they move along with the humorous rhythms of flutes, bells, and drums.

At the eve-of-festival celebration, an individual competition is held, with dancers competing in the fox, okame, and hyottoko categories, as well as the kids, senior, and general divisions.

Source: 2026第43回日向ひょっとこ夏祭り参加募集について – 日向ひょっとこ夏祭り

Hyottoko dancing fills the streets of Hyuga City with masks and festival music

What to expect

The festival centers on the individual competition at the eve-of-festival celebration and the dance parade on the main festival day.

At the eve-of-festival celebration, dancers perform in each division on stage. On the main festival day, participating groups formed by dancers and individual “niwaka-ren” dancers take part and dance.

Dancers wear costumes including masks, red kimono, and white belts, and parade along a designated route to festival music.

How to take part

Visitors can do more than watch the dancing: they can join in as part of a participating group or as an individual in the “niwaka-ren” dance group.

In 2026, participants were invited to join the dance parade and the individual competition at the eve-of-festival celebration.

Participation in the individual competition required taking part in the main festival parade, so applicants should check the guidelines for each division before applying.

In 2026, participants applied through the recruitment page on the official website after checking the guidelines and application form for either the dance parade or the individual competition.

Applications had to arrive by June 19, 2026 (Friday), and the individual competition had general, kids, and senior divisions.

Costume information is also provided, so participants need to prepare according to their division.

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

The city area around JR Hyuga-shi Station and Akugare Plaza (JR Hyuga-shi Station Square).

The address is 10736-15 Kamimachi, Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Train and bus

Just a short walk from JR Hyuga-shi Station.

By car

About 10 minutes by car from Hyuga IC on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway.

Parking

Free temporary parking is available.

For the eve-of-festival event, use the city hall visitor parking lot or the city hall staff parking lot.

Parking spaces are limited, so visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.

Address 10736-15 Uemachi, Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the eve-of-festival celebration was scheduled for July 31 (Friday), and the main festival for August 1 (Saturday).

The eve-of-festival celebration was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., focusing on the individual competition. The main festival was scheduled from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the dance parade set to begin at 6 p.m.

The main festival is generally held on the first Saturday of August, with the eve-of-festival celebration taking place the day before.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The venue extends through the streets around the station, so if you want to watch the dance parade, it is best to secure a viewing spot along the route or in the dance zone early.

The 2026 event information stated that the festival would be canceled in severe weather. As parking is limited, visitors were encouraged to use JR Hyuga-shi Station.

Start times and venue arrangements differ between the eve-of-festival celebration and the main festival, so check the details for the date you plan to visit.

Source: 日向ひょっとこ夏祭り（ひょっとこ踊り）｜宮崎県日向市

Nearby attractions

Temples and shrinesHyuga City

大御神社

宮崎県日向市日知屋にある神社

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写真：Naokijp / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Museums and art museumsHyuga City

日向市歴史民俗資料館

宮崎県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

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写真：STA3816 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Attractions in the same municipality. Check each attraction’s official website for travel distances from the venue and current opening information.

Origins and History of Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival

Hyuga Hyottoko Dance is said to have been created during the Meiji era by Dr. Tachibana Kimiyuki in the Nagata district of Shiomi, Hyuga City.

One theory traces the dance to satokagura, though details about when it originated remain unclear.

The dance has been passed down as a performing art associated with prayers for a bountiful harvest and business prosperity. In 1984, a summer festival was launched to revitalize the community and pass on its traditional culture.

Official information

The official Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival website publishes information such as participant recruitment, guidelines, application forms, and costume details.

The 2026 participant recruitment page included application information for the dance parade and individual competition.

Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival at a Glance

The Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival is a summer festival in Hyuga City centered on the Hyottoko dance passed down in the Nagata district. Visitors can enjoy the individual competition at the eve-of-festival celebration and the parade on the main festival day.

A major highlight is watching dancers wearing masks and red kimono move through the city streets to festival music.

In 2026, July 31 was listed as the eve-of-festival celebration, and August 1 as the main festival.