A traditional Utogi Bon Odori brought to life by drums, songs, and lanterns
Utogi Bon Odori
The 2026 edition of Utogi has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/15Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 15 / Every year
- Location
- Tōunji
- Area
- Shizuoka Prefecture・Shizuoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h–1 h 30 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Accompanied by drums and songs, Utogi Bon Odori keeps its men’s and women’s dances alive across generations. This folk performing art preserves the Naka-odori with decorated lanterns and the custom of seeing off ancestors at the end of the Bon period.
About Utogi Bon Odori
Utogi Bon Odori is a folk performing art passed down in Utogi, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. Its traditions distinguish between the men’s “Otoko-odori” and the women’s “Onna-odori.”
One distinctive feature is that the dancers form a circle and sing as they dance, accompanied by drums.
Each dance features its own objects, such as fans, kokiriko, sasara, and small naginata.
The dance keeps alive the meaning of Bon Odori: welcoming ancestors during the Bon period, dancing with them, and finally seeing them off.
Source: 有東木の盆踊：静岡市公式ホームページ / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the way the men’s and women’s dances alternate, with the movements and objects used changing from one piece to the next to the beat of the drums and songs.
In addition to dances using fans, kokiriko, and sasara, there is also the “Naka-odori,” in which dancers enter the circle with decorated lanterns held above their heads.
In the final “Naginata Dance,” the dancers face each other in 2 lines.
At the end of the 15th, there is a “send-off procession,” led by lanterns toward an intersection in the village.
A traditional Utogi Bon Odori brought to life by drums, songs, and lanterns
What to expect
The program begins with the men’s dances, followed by several pieces and then the women’s dances.
The only accompaniment is the shime-daiko; dancers form a circle and sing as they dance, while the “Utadashisan,” who leads the singing, and the “Taikonsama,” who plays the drum, guide the proceedings.
Depending on the piece, dancers use fans, kokiriko, sasara, and wooden naginata.
The event closes with the Naginata Dance and the send-off procession.
How to take part
General visitors may watch.
The event is primarily for watching the traditional men's and women's dances performed by dancers in the shrine grounds. In some years, time is also set aside for a musical chant that members of the public can join.
Please respect local customs and watch without obstructing the circle of dancers or the proceedings.
Source: 【ユネスコ無形文化遺産「風流踊」の「有東木の盆踊」】8月15日、5年ぶり実施の「オクシズの盆踊」。江戸時代から続く文化遺産ってどんなもの？｜静岡新聞アットエス / 有東木の盆踊 --- 静岡市観光ガイド『駿河湾★百景』
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shinonomeji Temple grounds (Utogi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City).
The address is 776 Utogi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
- By car
About 1 hour by car from central Shizuoka City.
Head north along Abe Kaido, then turn right before the Umegashima area and continue along the mountain road.
- Parking
There is no parking at the venue.
Address 776 Utogi, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
Information indicated that the event would be held on August 15 in 2026.
It is described as starting at around 7 p.m.
The annual Bon Odori is currently listed as taking place on August 15 on the grounds of Tōunji Temple.
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 Shizuoka Prefecture / Shizuoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue is in the grounds of a temple in the mountainous Utogi area, about 1 hour by car from central Shizuoka City.
There is no parking at the venue, so anyone arriving by car will need to arrange transportation in advance.
As this is an evening event, it is a good idea to check your transport for the return trip and watch your footing.
Please do not get too close to the circle of dancers or the procession accompanying them out. Watch quietly and respectfully as a local community event.
Source: しずおか文化財ナビ 有東木の盆踊｜静岡県公式ホームページ
Nearby attractions
The Utogi district is a mountain village said to be the birthplace of wasabi cultivation.
The district has a large wasabi field, and “Utsurogi,” a local products shop, sells fresh wasabi, pickled wasabi, and handmade soba.
A monument marking the birthplace of wasabi cultivation also stands in front of “Utsurogi.”
As it is in the same Utogi district as the festival venue, it can be included as one of your stops.
Source: ワサビ栽培発祥の地 有東木｜スポット・体験｜【公式】静岡市観光ナビ - 静岡市の旅行情報
久能山東照宮
静岡市駿河区にある神社
静岡市歴史博物館
静岡市の博物館
Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
静岡県静岡市にある神社
写真：Yoshizumi Endo from Tokyo, JAPAN / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
静岡県立美術館
静岡県静岡市にある美術館
写真：江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
駿府城
静岡市にあった城
Origins and History of Utogi Bon Odori
The origins of Utogi Bon Odori are unclear. However, similar Bon Odori dances have been passed down in the upper Abe River region, and records show that a drum was repaired in the mid-18th century. This suggests the dance has been handed down since at least that time.
Today, there are 23 dances in total: 10 men’s dances and 13 women’s dances.
More than 100 song verses were recorded from the Meiji through the Taisho period, and some resemble songs from the Muromachi period through the early Edo period.
It was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1999 and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element in 2022 as part of “Furyu-odori.”
Official information
The Shizuoka City official website page “Utogi Bon Odori” provides information on highlights, dates, venue, access, and cultural property designation.
The preservation group is the Utogi Geino Hozonkai.
Utogi Bon Odori at a Glance
Utogi Bon Odori is a Bon dance passed down with separate men’s and women’s dances, accompanied by drums and songs and featuring objects such as fans, kokiriko, and sasara.
Highlights include the Naka-odori, in which decorated lanterns enter the dance circle, and the Naginata Dance, performed face to face.
The dance carries on the meaning of welcoming ancestors during the Bon period, dancing with them, and finally seeing them off. It is registered as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element.
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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