A summer favorite where dancers parade through the city to celebrate Hakodate’s squid
Ika Odori
The 2026 edition of Ika Odori has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/03Ended
- Season / frequency
- Aug / Every year
- Location
- Wasshoi Hakodate, Chiyodai-Goryokaku Route (Chiyodai-cho to Hon-cho to Goryokaku-cho)
- Area
- Hokkaido・Hakodate City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · 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
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Viewing is free.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Ika Odori, themed around Hakodate’s specialty squid, is performed in a community participation parade at the Hakodate Port Festival. In 2026, Ika Odori for children and Hakodate Ika Odori were listed as scheduled for each route of Wasshoi Hakodate.
About Ika Odori
Ika Odori is a dance themed around squid, a specialty of Hakodate, Hokkaido.
It is performed in Wasshoi Hakodate, a parade at the Hakodate Port Festival, and is cherished as one of the local cultural traditions that represents summer in Hakodate.
One of its features is that it was created to be easy for anyone to dance.
For 2026, Ika Odori for children and Hakodate Ika Odori were listed as scheduled for a parade at the Hakodate Port Festival.
Source: いか踊り - Wikipedia / 函館港まつりオフィシャルサイト＊HAKODATE MINATOMATSURI
Festival highlights
One highlight is the large procession of Ika Odori dancers, including Hakodate residents, moving along the parade route and dancing in unison.
In 2026, Hakodate Ika Odori is scheduled for the third section on both the Jujigai-Matsukaze and Chiyodai-Goryokaku routes.
The second section also features Ika Odori for children, making it an event that can be enjoyed across generations.
From along the route, you can watch a dance inspired by squid, a symbol of Hakodate.
A summer favorite where dancers parade through the city to celebrate Hakodate’s squid
What to expect
Participants join Wasshoi Hakodate, part of the Hakodate Port Festival, and perform Ika Odori as they proceed along the designated parade route.
On the 2026 Chiyodai-Goryokaku Route, Hakodate Port Odori, Ika Odori for children, and the Summer Carnival were listed ahead of Hakodate Ika Odori.
The dance was created with the aim of making it easy for anyone to dance.
Spectators can watch the entire parade and the dancing from along the route.
How to take part
Members of the public can take part.
The Hakodate Ika Odori section of the Hakodate Port Festival parade has an option to join freely on the day, offering a chance to take part as a dancer.
In 2026, the Sugawara-gumi Group invited participants and encouraged family members, acquaintances, friends, and children’s friends to join as well.
Participation requirements and application methods vary by participation category.
Information says that participants can join freely on the day through the general participation option.
For group participation, applications to the Sugawara-gumi Group were announced for 2026. The deadline for applications that included a “Hakodate Ika Odori” T-shirt was June 18, and the deadline for applications from people who already had a T-shirt was July 17.
Those participating as part of a group are required to wear the designated T-shirt.
Source: 函館港まつり （パレードなど） | イベント一覧 | はこぶら / 「ワッショイはこだて」参加者大募集！ | 株式会社菅原組
Location and access
- Venue and address
The 2026 Hakodate Ika Odori was announced as scheduled to take place on routes including the Chiyodai–Goryokaku route of Wasshoi Hakodate.
The route runs from Chiyodai-cho through Hon-cho to Goryokaku-cho.
- Train and bus
From the Hakodate Ekimae tram stop, the area around Hakodate Station is just a short walk away.
The area around Goryokaku Koen-mae tram stop is also listed as a venue.
Address Chiyodai-cho to Hon-cho to Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Hakodate Port Festival runs from August 1 to August 5, and Ika Odori is performed as part of the Wasshoi Hakodate parade.
Hakodate Ika Odori is listed as taking place on August 3 on the Chiyodai-Goryokaku Route.
The program or times may change or the event may be canceled due to rain or other circumstances.
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 Hokkaido / Hakodate City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The parade takes place along city streets, so please check the location and time in advance if you plan to watch.
According to the 2026 information, details and times may change or the event may be canceled depending on the weather and how the proceedings unfold.
Rainy-weather arrangements vary by route and participation category, so participants should check the announcements for the option they are joining.
When watching from along the route, please choose a spot that does not obstruct the parade.
Nearby attractions
Hakodate Green Plaza is near the Hakodate Port Festival parade area, and during the festival period, food and other stalls line the route.
The area around Hakodate Station is listed as a 1-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station, making it easy to reach the parade from the station area.
Nearby attractions also include Hakodate Morning Market, Daimon Yokocho, and the Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Mashu Maru.
Enjoy sightseeing around central Hakodate along with Ika Odori.
Source: 函館港まつり / 北海道 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
五稜郭
北海道函館市にある国の特別史跡
写真：Keihin nike / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
五稜郭タワー
北海道函館市にある展望塔
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
函館市北方民族資料館
Museums
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
函館市文学館
日本の北海道函館市にある文学館
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
函館市縄文文化交流センター
北海道函館市にある博物館
写真：アラツク / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
函館市青函連絡船記念館摩周丸
北海道函館市にある、かつて連絡船として活躍していた博物館船
写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
市立函館博物館
北海道函館市の博物館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Ika Odori
Ika Odori was created in 1981 for the Hakodate Port Festival by Ika Odori Executive Committee, a volunteer group of Hakodate residents.
Toshiyuki Masuno, who worked for a seafood company, choreographed the dance, and it was first performed by 20 dancers.
It was created with the aim of making it easy for anyone to dance. Its popularity later grew through its release as a record in 1986 and urban development initiatives in the 1990s.
Today, it is danced at parades and other events during the Hakodate Port Festival.
Official information
Official information about the Hakodate Port Festival is available on the festival’s official website.
For 2026’s Wasshoi Hakodate, the locations and program details for each section are listed for the Jujigai-Matsukaze and Chiyodai-Goryokaku routes.
For inquiries, contact the Hakodate Port Festival Executive Committee Secretariat.
Ika Odori at a Glance
Ika Odori is a dance inspired by squid, a Hakodate specialty, and performed in a parade with local residents taking part.
In 2026, Ika Odori for children and Hakodate Ika Odori were listed as scheduled for Wasshoi Hakodate at the Hakodate Port Festival.
Hakodate Ika Odori has a same-day open participation option, so you can join as a dancer or watch from along the route.
The event spans several routes across the city, so check which route you plan to visit before setting out.
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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