Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima, passed down through lanterns and drums
Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- On the evening of August 14 each year / Every year
- Area
- Kagawa Prefecture・Sakaide City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 15 min–1 h 35 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A passed down on the islands of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima, danced to songs and drums. The distinctive sight of lanterns held aloft and ancestral tablets carried on the back conveys the island tradition of remembering ancestors.
About Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima
The Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima is a Bon Odori passed down on Yoshima and Hitsuishijima in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture.
People form a circle and dance with traditional steps to songs and drums.
Lanterns and ancestral tablets from households observing their first since a family member’s death are brought to the dance site. The event is passed down as a local Obon observance commemorating ancestors.
On Yoshima, it is also called Hotoke Odori; on Hitsuishijima, it is also known as Shinrei Odori or Shoryo Odori.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the leisurely circle dance around the .
On Yoshima, people dance clockwise around a two-tiered yagura, with the lead singer on the upper level and drums on the lower level.
On Hitsuishijima, men and women form separate circles, and the women hold fans.
The sight of people dancing with ancestral tablets carried on their backs is also distinctive, accompanied by the glow of lanterns, songs, and drums.
Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima, passed down through lanterns and drums
What to expect
On Yoshima, around 6 p.m., kiriko lanterns and ancestral tablets are brought from households observing their first Obon since a family member’s death, and the lanterns are hung beside the yagura.
Family members of the recently deceased wrap the ancestral tablet in a furoshiki or white cloth, carry it on their back, and begin dancing to songs and drums.
The dance repeats a sequence of raising the hands, stepping forward, turning back as if drawing a circle, and clapping.
On Hitsuishijima, lanterns and ancestral tablets are also used, and people dance in separate circles for men and women.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The dance takes place on the school sports ground on Yoshima and in a seaside plaza on Hitsuishijima.
Located on Yoshima and Hitsuishijima, Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture.
- Train and bus
You can travel to Hitsuishijima by route bus from Sakaide Station, via Yoshima.
Check the number of services and timetables between Sakaide Station, Yoshima, and Hitsuishijima on the day you plan to travel.
- By car
Yoshima and Hitsuishijima are islands crossed by the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
Event venue 香川県坂出市 与島は学校の運動場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
It is usually held on the evening of August 14.
Bon Odori is held at night on Yoshima, and a Bon Odori performance is also open to the public on Hits Ishima on the same day.
Source: 櫃石の盆踊り（坂出市）｜香川県
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 Kagawa Prefecture / Sakaide City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The Bon Odori takes place at night, with venues on the 2 islands of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima.
On Hitsuishijima, the dance is held in a seaside plaza; on Yoshima, it takes place on the school sports ground, so be sure to check the venue to avoid going to the wrong place.
Public transportation services are limited, so check the return service in advance as well.
Please respect that this is a memorial observance involving lanterns and ancestral tablets, and watch quietly.
Nearby attractions
Seto Ohashi Memorial Park
香川県坂出市にある都市公園・道の駅
瀬戸大橋記念館
香川県坂出市にある博物館
神谷神社
香川県坂出市にある神社
香川県立東山魁夷せとうち美術館
香川県坂出市にある美術館
Origins and History of Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima
Before the war, the Bon Odori on Yoshima was held for 3 days, from day 13 of lunar month 8 through the 15th. After the war, it changed to a single-day event on August 14 according to the Gregorian calendar.
In the past, people also danced to songs such as “Ishidomaru” and “Nasu no Yoichi,” and are said to have performed the Toro Odori on the final evening.
Today, the Toro Odori, whose lyrics include the names of the recently deceased, is the main dance.
Yoshima and Hitsuishijima belong to the Shiwaku Islands, and the tradition has been passed down in connection with local life.
Official information
This information can be confirmed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties and the Kagawa Prefectural Museum’s information on the “Bon Odori of Hitsuishijima.”
The Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima is listed as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as the creation of records.
The public viewing date for Hitsuishijima is listed as August 14.
Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima at a Glance
The Bon Odori of Yoshima and Hitsuishijima is an Obon observance where island residents form a circle and dance to songs and drums.
Its distinctive features include dancing with lanterns held aloft and ancestral tablets carried on the back, as well as Yoshima’s two-tiered yagura and the separate circles for men and women on Hitsuishijima.
It is held on the evening of August 14 each year, quietly expressing remembrance of ancestors and the passing down of local traditions.
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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