An autumn celebration of Ryukyu culture, with Okinawan sounds and flavors bringing Nagata to life
Ryukyu Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every autumn / Every year
- Location
- Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park
- Area
- Hyogo Prefecture・Kobe(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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Ryukyu Festival unfolds at Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park, Nagata Ward, Kobe, with Okinawan music and food, as well as a michi-june procession through the shopping streets. It is an event where you can feel both the desire to uplift Nagata Ward after the earthquake and the community's deep-rooted ties to Okinawa.
About Ryukyu Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Corpse Reviver File:Ryukyu Matsuri in Shin-Nagata Oct09 002.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Corpse Reviver File:Ryukyu Matsuri in Shin-Nagata Oct09 176.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Corpse Reviver File:Ryukyu Matsuri in Shin-Nagata Oct09 140.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Ryukyu Festival is an Okinawan cultural event held regularly in Nagata Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.
Stalls serve Okinawan food, and live Okinawan music is performed on stage.
Many people in Nagata Ward, Kobe, have ties to Okinawa, making this an event where you can feel the bonds within the community.
Source: 琉球祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The main highlights are live Okinawan music on the stage at Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park and stalls where you can sample Okinawan food.
A michi-june procession, with performers dancing as they move through the streets, also takes place in the surrounding shopping district, not just inside the venue.
The sight of the Tetsujin 28 monument alongside Okinawan culture in the same neighborhood is also characteristic of this festival.
An autumn celebration of Ryukyu culture, with Okinawan sounds and flavors bringing Nagata to life
What to expect
At the festival, start by enjoying food from the Okinawan stalls at Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park while watching live Okinawan music on stage.
Around the venue, performers dance as they move through the shopping streets in a michi-june procession.
The program lets you enjoy both the park stage and the procession through town.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The main venue is Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park (Nagata Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture).
Event venue 兵庫県神戸市 若松公園の鉄人広場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Every autumn
- Frequency
Every year
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 / Kobe (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
人と防災未来センター
兵庫県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
兵庫県立美術館
兵庫県神戸市「HAT神戸」にある美術館
布引ハーブ園
兵庫県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
生田神社
神戸市中央区にある神社
白鶴美術館
兵庫県神戸市東灘区にある美術館
写真：Original uploader was 663highland at ja.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
神戸どうぶつ王国
兵庫県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
神戸ポートタワー
神戸港にあるタワー
神戸市立博物館
神戸市中央区京町にある博物館
神戸市立小磯記念美術館
神戸市東灘区にある美術館
Origins and History of Ryukyu Festival
Ryukyu Festival began with the aim of uplifting Nagata Ward, which was affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
The festival was initially held in front of Shin-Nagata Station, but Wakamatsu Park became a new venue after the Tetsujin 28 monument was completed.
The 17th festival was held in 2019, continuing a history intertwined with the area's recovery and revitalization.
Official information
The Ryukyu Festival page from KOBE Tetsujin Project is listed as the official information source.
Ryukyu Festival at a Glance
Ryukyu Festival is a local event centered around Tetsujin Plaza in Wakamatsu Park, Nagata Ward, Kobe, where you can enjoy Okinawan music and food.
It also features a michi-june, a procession that moves through the shopping streets with performers dancing, so you can enjoy the park stage and activities around town together.
The festival began with the hope of uplifting Nagata Ward after the earthquake and shares the cultural connections of the local community with Okinawa.
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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