Tsukuda Bon Odori: quietly carrying on the memories of Edo around the yagura tower
Tsukuda Bon Odori
The 2026 edition of Tsukuda has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/13 〜 2026/07/15Ended
- Season / frequency
- Annually, from July 13 to the 15th / Every year
- Location
- In front of the Tsukuda Machikado Exhibition Hall, on Tsukuda 1-chome Chuo-dori
- Area
- Tokyo Metropolis・Chuo City(Within Tokyo: approx. 15 min–1 h by train (central areas))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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A Bon dance passed down in Tsukuda 1-chome, where dancers form a circle around a tower and dance slowly to the beat of a drum and dance songs. It carries on the tradition of comforting the spirits of those who drowned and the dance style passed down since the Edo period.
About Tsukuda Bon Odori
Tsukuda Bon Odori is a Bon dance passed down in Tsukuda 1-chome, Chuo City, Tokyo. Dancers form a circle around a yagura tower.
It is said to be a dance to comfort the spirits of people who drowned in the Sumida River, and has been passed down through generations, rooted in local faith and daily life.
The sight of the lead singer beating a drum and singing dance songs as the dancers slowly circle around evokes the atmosphere of Edo-period performing arts.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the steady drumbeat and dance songs in the narrative style, with a seven-seven syllable meter.
Dancers repeat the nanba-style movement of extending the arm and leg on the same side forward and back. They move quietly, lightly clapping their hands at breaks in the song.
There is also a custom of adults dancing in costume on the 15th, the final day. Costumes have reflected different eras and social trends, including those of the 47 Akō retainers.
Tsukuda Bon Odori: quietly carrying on the memories of Edo around the yagura tower
What to expect
At dusk, the lead singer takes a place atop the yagura tower, keeping the beat on a drum while singing dance songs.
Dancers form a circle around the yagura tower and move counterclockwise, slowly repeating the same movements.
Songs passed down include “The Seven Flowers of Autumn,” “Giō,” “Village Names,” and “The Weaver’s Daughter.” On the final day, adults also join in a costume dance.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
In front of the Tsukuda Machikado Exhibition Hall, on Tsukuda 1-chome Chuo-dori.
The venue is on the streets of Tsukuda 1-chome.
- Train and bus
Tsukishima Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and Toei Oedo Line.
Address In front of the Tsukuda Machikado Exhibition Hall, on Tsukuda 1-chome Chuo-dori, Tsukuda, Chuo City, Tokyo
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, the event was scheduled to run from July 13 (Monday) through the 15th (Wednesday), from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Children are scheduled to participate until 7:30 p.m.
The Tsukuda Bon Odori is usually held during the Urabon period, from July 13 through the 15th.
Source: 佃の盆踊りが始まりましたよ 信長・石山合戦由来の跛行おどりが15日（水）まで by よこやん | 中央区観光協会特派員ブログ
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Tips for your visit
According to the 2026 information, children are scheduled to participate until 7:30 p.m.
Since the event takes place at a roadside venue at night, watch quietly from a spot that does not obstruct the dance circle or pedestrian traffic.
If you’d like to see the features of each day, such as the costume dance on the final day, choose the day you want to attend in advance for the best experience.
Nearby attractions
アーティゾン美術館
東京都中央区にある私立美術館
貨幣博物館
東京都中央区の日本銀行金融研究所内にある博物館
Origins and History of Tsukuda Bon Odori
The origins of Tsukuda Bon Odori are said to be connected with fishermen who moved from Tsukuda Village in Settsu to Edo in the early Edo period, and with the Urabon-e festival at Nishi Honganji Temple, which was completed in Tsukiji.
In the past, dancers made their way through the streets of Edo and, after receiving donations, performed the dance at Nishi Honganji Temple.
After public fundraising in the city was prohibited, the dance was performed locally instead, and it has been passed down to the present day.
Official information
Tsukuda Bon Odori is a folk performing art listed by the national government as an “intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.”
The preservation group is the Tsukudajima Bon Odori Preservation Society, and information is also provided about its designation as an intangible folk cultural property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
Traditional dance songs, movements, and the custom of dancing in costume are preserved and passed down in the community.
Tsukuda Bon Odori at a Glance
Tsukuda Bon Odori is a traditional event held on the streets of Tsukuda 1-chome, where dancers circle a yagura tower and dance quietly to the beat of a drum and narrative-style dance songs.
The dance is intended to comfort the spirits of those who drowned, carrying on local faith and performing arts dating back to the Edo period.
In 2026, the event was held from July 13 through the 15th, in front of the Tsukuda Machikado Exhibition Hall on Tsukuda 1-chome Chuo-dori.
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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