Graceful Bon Odori passed down in Tsurusaki and the colors of a summer evening
Tsurusaki Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year in August. Typically held on Saturday and Sunday on the weekend after / Every year
- Location
- Tsurusaki Park Ground
- Area
- Oita Prefecture・Oita City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 min · 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
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This summer tradition features local dancers performing Tsurusaki Odori, which has been passed down for generations in Tsurusaki, Oita City. The Sarumaru Dayu and Saemon dances unfold to the sounds of drums, flutes, and other instruments. In 2026, the event was held at Tsurusaki Park Ground, with general participation and fireworks.
About Tsurusaki Odori
Tsurusaki Odori is a with a long history in Tsurusaki, Oita City, and is a folk performing art representative of the area.
There are 2 dances, Sarumaru Dayu and Saemon, whose graceful movements have been passed down through generations.
Tsurusaki’s prosperity as a landing place and trading port, along with its active cultural exchanges with Kyoto, Osaka, and other cities, is also considered to have helped the dances take root.
Today, local preservation societies and others continue to pass it on.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the sight of dancers in colorful costumes moving in unison to the sounds of flutes, kokyu, and other instruments.
Enjoy the contrasting styles of the unhurried Sarumaru Dayu and the lively Saemon.
The accompaniment includes drums, shamisen, and flutes, with kokyu and shakuhachi added later.
In 2026, fireworks were launched to close the dancing.
Graceful Bon Odori passed down in Tsurusaki and the colors of a summer evening
What to expect
At the Honba Tsurusaki Odori Festival, dancers gathered at the venue perform dances such as Sarumaru Dayu to traditional music.
According to the 2026 event information, it was held at Tsurusaki Park Ground from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by fireworks.
Dancers take part not only from the local area but also from other regions.
You can do more than watch—you can join the dancing at the venue on the day.
Source: 【大分市】8/22開催。460年以上の歴史を持つ「本場鶴崎踊大会」が鶴崎公園グラウンドで行われます。 | 号外NET 大分市
How to take part
Members of the public can take part.
In 2026, on-the-day registration was available at the individual registration tent inside the venue, and those wishing to join the dancing were advised to register by 6:45 p.m.
Participation is open not only to people who take part every year, but also to those who would like to try dancing for the first time.
Check the registration location and deadline, and allow plenty of time to get to the venue for peace of mind.
In 2026, information was provided on registering on the day at the individual registration tent inside the venue.
Registration closes at 6:45 p.m.
Check the information for the year you plan to attend for details such as whether advance registration is required and what to bring.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tsurusaki Park Ground (1-1772-1 Higashitsurusaki, Oita City, Oita Prefecture, 〒870-0103)
- Train and bus
About a 15-minute walk from JR Tsurusaki Station.
From JR Oita Station, take a bus for about 30 minutes, get off at Tsurusaki bus stop, then walk about 10 minutes.
- Parking
There is parking space for about 55 vehicles.
Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation where possible.
Address 1-1772-1 Higashitsurusaki, Oita City, Oita Prefecture
Dates and season
The 2026 Honba Tsurusaki Odori Festival was held on August 22 (Saturday).
The event runs from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tsurusaki Park Ground.
The Tsurusaki Odori Festival takes place every year in August, and is typically scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on the weekend after Obon.
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 Oita Prefecture / Oita City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, the event was announced as canceled in the event of rain.
The event takes place at night, and since you’ll want to enjoy the dancing and fireworks, it’s a good idea to arrive with plenty of time before it starts.
If you wish to participate in the dancing, register at the individual registration tent inside the venue by 6:45 p.m.
In 2026, the event was held only at the Tsurusaki Park grounds, with no road restrictions such as the pedestrian-only zones used in other years.
Nearby attractions
Sightseeing information for the area around the Tsurusaki Odori venue includes the Oita Bank Red Brick Building, OPAM Oita Prefectural Art Museum, Oita City Art Museum, and Hayasuhime Shrine in Saganoseki.
For coastal sightseeing, Tanoura Beach and Oita Marine Palace Aquarium “Umitamago” are also recommended.
If visiting alongside the festival, please check each facility’s opening days and visitor information in advance.
大分マリーンパレス水族館
大分県大分市にある水族館
大分市歴史資料館
大分県大分市にある博物館
大分市海部古墳資料館
大分県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
大分市美術館
大分県大分市にある美術館
大分県立埋蔵文化財センター
大分県大分市にある行政機関
大分県立歴史博物館
大分県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
大分県立美術館
大分県大分市にある美術館
大分県立芸術会館
大分県大分市にあった文化施設
府内城
大分県大分市の城
柞原八幡宮
大分県大分市にある神社
西寒多神社
大分県大分市にある神社
高崎山自然動物園
大分県大分市にある自然公園
Origins and History of Tsurusaki Odori
The origins of Tsurusaki Odori are thought to be connected to an old record stating that Otomo Sorin, a warlord of the Sengoku period, had people dance the “Mitsu-byoshi.”
However, whether today’s “Saemon” has been performed since that time remains a subject of study in relation to local traditions.
In the past, young men’s groups from each neighborhood set up stalls along the roads and danced there, but from the Taisho period onward, the event shifted to large-scale dancing at a single venue.
Masked dancing is said to have become more popular after a memorial dance held during the Taisho period prompted its growth.
Official information
The Tsurusaki Odori Preservation Society’s website is listed as an official related resource.
This is the contact point for checking information that varies by year, such as event details and how to participate.
Tsurusaki Odori is also described as having cultural value in connection with Japan’s national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.
Tsurusaki Odori at a Glance
Tsurusaki Odori is a traditional event centered on 2 types of Bon Odori passed down in Tsurusaki, Oita City.
Enjoy the graceful Sarumaru Dayu and Saemon dances accompanied by the sounds of drums, flutes, and other instruments.
In 2026, the event was held at Tsurusaki Park Ground, and general participants could register at the venue on the day.
Visitors can watch the evening dances and fireworks and experience both the area’s history and its lively present-day atmosphere.
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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