Ushiku Kappa Festival

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the dance parade along Hanamizuki Street.

About 3,500 people were expected to take part on each day in 2026, with lines of dancers moving through the festival grounds.

Other events include the merchants’ and women’s mikoshi, the main stage, and the Family Plaza, offering activities for people of different generations and ways of participating.

Source: 【締め切りました】第42回うしくかっぱ祭り 踊りパレード参加者募集：牛久市観光協会 / 第42回うしくかっぱ祭り（2026）：牛久市観光協会 / 第42回うしくかっぱ祭り 商工みこし・女みこし担ぎ手募集：牛久市観光協会

A summer festival of Ushiku dance and mikoshi, rooted in kappa legends

What to expect

The festival features a dance parade along Hanamizuki Street, where participants dance to Kappa-bayashi music.

If you take part as a mikoshi carrier, wear the designated happi and carry the mikoshi while calling out in rhythm.

A family-friendly plaza and stage are also set up on the city hall grounds, with hands-on activities and performances by families.

Source: 7月25日・26日開催‼うしくかっぱ祭り ～親子特区‼うしく×おやこの広場~ 編 | 牛久市公式ホームページ

How to take part

There are participation slots open to the general public.

The dance parade is open to groups of 10 or more people based in Ushiku City. People who live or work in the city, as well as their acquaintances, may apply to participate in the mikoshi.

There are age requirements for the mikoshi: participants in the Commerce and Industry Mikoshi must be high school students or older, and participants in the Women's Mikoshi must be junior high school students or older.

To apply for the dance parade, fill out the application form and submit it in person, by post, by fax, or by email.

Applications for the 2026 parade were open from May 15 through the 29th, and registration has closed.

The Commerce and Industry Mikoshi and Women's Mikoshi have separate application forms, and applications will close once capacity is reached.

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

The festival venue is centered around Hanamizuki-dori.

The mikoshi headquarters will be set up in the Rokin parking lot on Hanamizuki-dori.

Train and bus

The nearest station is Ushiku Station on the JR East Joban Line.

During the festival, some hospital shuttle bus routes will be detoured because Hanamizuki-dori will be closed to vehicles.

By car

July 25, 2026 (Sat.), Hanamizuki-dori was scheduled to be closed to vehicles from 3 p.m.

Parking

The mikoshi headquarters is in the Rokin parking lot.

Source: 『第42回 うしくかっぱ祭り』開催に伴う交通規制による病院送迎バス一部路線変更のお知らせ | 牛久愛和総合病院

Event venue 茨城県牛久市 花水木通りを中心とする祭り会場

This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.

Open in Google Maps

Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The 42nd Ushiku Kappa Festival in 2026 was held on July 25 (Saturday) and 26 (Sunday).

The dance parade was scheduled for both days from 5:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m., and mikoshi participants were told to assemble at 6 p.m.

On the 26th, lightning strikes and heavy rain continued near the venue, and the event was canceled partway through.

Source: 第42回うしくかっぱ祭り | ISS アイ・エス・エス株式会社

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

In 2026, the event was called off midway through the second day because of lightning and heavy rain.

Event details and traffic restrictions may change depending on the weather, so please check the day's announcements before visiting.

In particular, Hanamizuki-dori may be closed to vehicles, and buses may be detoured.

Origins and History of Ushiku Kappa Festival

The festival began as the Ushiku Furusato Festival, first held in August 1981.

In 1982, it was renamed the “Kappa Festival,” and starting with the 11th festival in 1992, the spelling was changed from “Kappa” to “kappa.”

It is said to have begun with the aim of fostering connections and交流 between Ushiku residents.

Official information

Information about the 42nd Ushiku Kappa Festival is available on the official Ushiku City Tourism Association page.

Information is available on the festival dates, participant recruitment, program, Kappa-bayashi music, and stage events.

Ushiku Kappa Festival at a Glance

Ushiku Kappa Festival is a summer festival in Ushiku City inspired by the kappa legends of Lake Ushiku.

The dance parade along Hanamizuki Street is the main event, alongside mikoshi, stage events, and activities for families.

In 2026, it was held on July 25 and 26, but the second day’s festivities were canceled partway through due to bad weather.