An elegant circle dance passed down around bonfires, accompanied by drums and song
Kemanai Bon Odori
The 2026 edition of Kemanai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/21 〜 2026/08/23Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, from August 21 to the 23rd / Every year
- Location
- Kemanai Komose Street
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Kazuno City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 40 min–4 h 10 min · bullet 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Spectator chair seats: 500 yen; photography permit: 500 yen. No price is given for watching while standing.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This Bon Odori has been passed down in Kemanai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. The O no Saka Dance and the Jinku Dance are performed within a circle around the bonfires.
About Kemanai Bon Odori
Kemanai Bon Odori is a Bon Odori tradition passed down in the Kemanai district of Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture.
Dancers form a long, narrow circle around the bonfires and dance slowly while facing inward.
It is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of the “Furyu Odori.”
The religious and recreational aspects of Bon Odori have been passed down on the local streets.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
Highlights include the distinctive circle dance around bonfires lit along the street and the dancers’ costumes.
The distinctive atmosphere of the dance is created by costumes that include cheek coverings made from a bean-patterned tenugui, as well as prescribed kimono styles for men and women.
The O no Saka Dance, performed to drum and flute music, is followed by the Jinku Dance, performed to singing alone, and the Jonkara Dance is presented last.
Source: 毛馬内の盆踊／鹿角市
An elegant circle dance passed down around bonfires, accompanied by drums and song
What to expect
At the venue in the evening, dancers first gather to the sound of the call drum, then begin dancing around the bonfires.
In 2026, programs on some days included children’s Bon Odori, storytelling, and a performance of Furusato Odaiko, followed by the O no Saka Dance, the Jinku Dance, and the Jonkara Dance.
The O no Saka Dance is performed to drums and flutes, while the Jinku Dance is performed to singing, with dancers facing inward around the circle.
Source: 毛馬内盆踊り（けまないぼんおどり） 公式ホームページ
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：観覧椅子席500円、撮影許可証500円。
No price is given for watching while standing.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The event is held on Kemanai Komose Street (around 7 Kemanai, Towada-Kemanai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture).
In case of rain, the venue changes to the Towada Civic Center Gymnasium (7-5 Shironoshita, Towada-Kemanai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture).
- Train and bus
About a 20-minute walk from JR Towada-Minami Station.
- By car
It is about 10 minutes by car from the Towada Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway.
Official information also indicates that the Kemanai venue is about 5 minutes from the Towada IC.
Source: 毛馬内盆踊り | 旅するかづの／鹿角公式観光サイト
Address Around 7 Kemanai, Towada-Kemanai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was held from August 21 (Friday) through the 23rd (Sunday) in 2026.
The schedule listed a call drum sounding each evening, followed by the O no Saka Dance, the Jinku Dance, and the Jonkara Dance.
In case of rain, the venue may change, and the program or times may also change.
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 Akita Prefecture / Kazuno City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
400 seats are set up for spectators on each of the 3 days. They are sold for 500 yen per seat from 2 p.m. on the day.
You can also watch standing without purchasing a chair seat.
A photography permit is required to take photos from inside the circle of dancers, and there are restrictions on photography times and where you may enter, as well as on approaching or giving directions to the large taiko drum and dancers.
Nearby attractions
From around the Kemanai venue, the Oyu Stone Circles are about 10 minutes away by car, Oyu Onsen Village about 10 minutes, Korakukan about 15 minutes, and Yasumiya on Lake Towada about 50 minutes.
Travel times to the venue and other locations are approximate and refer to travel by car.
If you plan to visit alongside the festival, check each facility’s operating status and conditions of use in advance.
Source: 会場までのアクセス - 「毛馬内盆踊り」会場までのアクセスについて
大湯環状列石
秋田県鹿角市にある縄文時代の配石遺跡
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市先人顕彰館
秋田県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市歴史民俗資料館
秋田県鹿角市にある博物館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Kemanai Bon Odori
The origins of Kemanai Bon Odori are uncertain, but a record by Sugae Masumi, compiled during the Bunka and Bunsei eras, mentions “Bon Odori O no Saka-fushi,” confirming that it had been performed at least since the mid-Edo period.
It was suspended for a time from the Second Sino-Japanese War through World War II, but was revived after the war.
The song for the O no Saka Dance was lost in the modern era, and today it is performed to drums and flutes.
Official information
The official website lists the 2026 event schedule, venue changes in case of rain, and information about audience seating and photography permits.
It can be used to check the latest information on event dates, the day’s program, and viewing arrangements.
Kemanai Bon Odori at a Glance
Kemanai Bon Odori is a traditional event held on the streets of Kemanai in Kazuno City, where people dance in distinctive costumes around bonfires.
The O no Saka Dance, the Jinku Dance, and the Jonkara Dance are performed in sequence, accompanied by drums, flutes, and singing.
The event was held from August 21 through the 23rd in 2026, and information was also provided about seating and photography permits.
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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