A dance festival bringing color to Kakogawa across generations
Odokko Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Odokko Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/03 〜 2026/05/04Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every May Golden Week / Every year
- Location
- Special Stage in front of Kakogawa City Hall, SHOWA Group Kakogawa Civic Hall, rooftop of Kakogawa Yamato Yashiki, Kakogawa Station North Vehicle Parking Area
- Area
- Hyogo Prefecture・Kakogawa City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 40 min–3 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.
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Age restrictions
- All generations
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Set in Kakogawa City, the festival features dancers, primarily local residents, performing at multiple venues. Through -style dance, it aims to foster interaction across generations and revitalize the Kakogawa River basin.
About Odokko Matsuri
Odokko Matsuri is a dance festival created primarily by local residents in Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Incorporating the yosakoi style from Kochi, the festival aims to encourage interaction among a broad range of people, including residents of the Kakogawa River basin, and to revitalize the region.
A distinctive feature is the interaction through dance across generations, from children to older adults.
Source: 踊っこまつり - Wikipedia / 踊っこまつりとは|踊っこまつり【公式ホームページ】加古川市の踊りの祭典
Festival highlights
A highlight is the performances by individual teams at multiple venues.
In 2026, the venues include the Special Stage in front of Kakogawa City Hall, SHOWA Group Kakogawa Civic Hall, the rooftop of Kakogawa Yamato Yashiki, and the Kakogawa Station North Vehicle Parking Area.
The festival also features performances with colorful costumes and original music, as well as judging and awards in each division.
Source: 躍動する演舞、加古川の街が熱狂に包まれる2日間「第28回踊っこまつり」開催 | 加古川市のプレスリリース
A dance festival bringing color to Kakogawa across generations
What to expect
In 2026, the parade and eve festival are scheduled for May 3, followed by the main festival on May 4.
Many teams take part in the eve festival and main festival, performing at each venue.
Performances are judged and awards are given in categories including the Odokko and Open divisions. Individual awards are also presented at the Kakogawa Station North performance venue.
How to take part
The festival is held with local residents at its heart and is open to participants of all generations.
In 2026, 52 teams from within and outside the prefecture entered, and a total of 78 teams will take part across the eve-of-festival event and the main festival.
The festival information does not specify conditions or application procedures for members of the general public who wish to participate as a team beyond what is stated in the event guide.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Special Stage in front of Kakogawa City Hall; SHOWA Group Kakogawa Civic Hall (2000 Kitazaike, Kakogawa-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture); rooftop of Kakogawa Yamato Yashiki; Kakogawa Station North Vehicle Parking Area (30-1 Shinohara-cho, Kakogawa-cho, Kakogawa City).
- Train and bus
About a 15-minute walk from JR Kakogawa Station.
- Parking
The Kakogawa Station North Vehicle Parking Area is one of the performance venues.
Source: 第28回踊っこまつり | イベント | まるごと東はりま
Address 2000 Kitazaike, Kakogawa-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture / 30-1 Shinohara-cho, Kakogawa-cho, Kakogawa City
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The festival was held over 2 days in 2026: May 3 (Sunday) and May 4 (Monday, a public holiday).
The parade began at 4 p.m. and the eve festival at 6 p.m. on May 3; the main festival began at 10 a.m. on May 4. The listed end time for both days was 8:30 p.m.
The “Guutto! Kakogawa Festival” was also held at the City Hall plaza on the 4th.
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 Hyogo Prefecture / Kakogawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Odokko Matsuri
Odokko Matsuri began on May 9, 1999 as the 1st Kakogawa Odokko Matsuri.
The 2nd festival, in 2000, was held as a commemorative event for the 50th anniversary of Kakogawa City’s establishment. The 3rd festival, in 2001, had 3 venues: main, secondary, and parade.
The name was later changed to “Odokko Matsuri” because performances were also held outside Kakogawa City.
Official information
The official Odokko Matsuri website provides information about the festival’s aims and purpose.
The 2026 event overview names the Odokko Matsuri Promotion Association, a nonprofit organization, as the organizer.
公式ホームページのURLは公式ホームページのURLです。
Odokko Matsuri at a Glance
Odokko Matsuri is a yosakoi-style dance festival nurtured in Kakogawa City by local residents.
In 2026, the parade, eve festival, and main festival were held at 4 venues, including locations in front of City Hall and around Kakogawa Station.
Performances are judged in several divisions, and the festival is held to foster interaction across generations and communities.
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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