A festival that brings the sounds and dances of the Soran Bushi folk song to the streets of Sapporo
YOSAKOI Soran Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Early June / Every year
- Location
- Odori Park West 8-chome venue and other venues around Sapporo
- Area
- Hokkaido・Sapporo(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · 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
- Required number of participants
- Up to 150 people (U-40: 39 people or fewer)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
To the sound of the Soran Bushi folk song, teams carrying naruko clappers and large flags dance through the streets of Sapporo at the Soran Festival. A wide variety of performances unfold on stages and in parades, centered around Odori Park.
About YOSAKOI Soran Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Zoro kengo File:夢想漣えさし.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: OKJaguar File:Yosakoi Soran dance festival performers, Odori Park, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The YOSAKOI Soran Festival is a festival that brightens early summer in Sapporo, combining Kochi Prefecture's Yosakoi Festival with Hokkaido's Soran Bushi folk song.
Participating teams perform to music that includes phrases from the Soran Bushi folk song, using items such as naruko clappers, fans, and large flags.
The festival takes place at multiple venues around Sapporo, centered on Odori Park West 8-chome.
Source: YOSAKOIソーラン祭り - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The highlight is the powerful, well-coordinated performances presented by each team with carefully designed costumes and props.
Stage performances make use of a limited space, while parade performances involve dancing as the groups move along the streets.
Some parades feature vehicles carrying sound equipment, known as jikatasha, and you can enjoy different performances at each venue.
A festival that brings the sounds and dances of the Soran Bushi folk song to the streets of Sapporo
What to expect
At the festival, each team prepares a song incorporating elements of Soran Bushi and performs with naruko clappers, fans, large flags, and other props.
Performances take place on stage or in parades; in the moving parade format, teams perform while advancing 100 meters along the street.
In addition to performances at each venue, the festival includes judging, a final stage, and a final parade.
How to take part
Teams are made up of dancers, musicians, flag and banner bearers, equipment transport staff, and others.
A Wa Odori Square venue, where visitors can join in spontaneously, is available as a way for general attendees to participate.
Team performances must follow rules on participant numbers, duration, and other requirements.
Participating teams include dancers, musicians, flag and banner bearers, and staff who transport equipment, among others.
Performance songs incorporate phrases from Soran Bushi and are presented on stage or in parade format.
Wa Odori Square has a stage where visitors can join in spontaneously.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The main venue is the Odori Park West 8-chome venue (West 8-chome, Odori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo), with events also held at venues throughout Sapporo, including the Odori North-South Parade venue.
- Train and bus
The Odori Park West 8-chome venue is about 350 m east of Exit 4 of Nishi 11-chome Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line, approximately a 4-minute walk.
- By car
Please be aware of traffic restrictions and congestion around the venues when visiting.
- Parking
There is no parking at the Odori Park West 8-chome venue.
Address Odori Nishi 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Dates and season
It is usually held for 5 days in early June, with the dates adjusted so that the final day falls on the 2nd Sunday.
On the 1st and 2nd days, performances take place at the Odori Park West 8-chome Stage venue. From the 3rd day onward, events include Soran Night, performances at various venues, and judging.
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 Hokkaido / Sapporo (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Venues are spread throughout Sapporo, including stages in Odori Park and parade routes on the streets.
Performances take place on the streets at venues such as the Odori North-South Parade venue, so be aware of traffic restrictions and congestion around the venues when getting around.
If you are driving, please note that there is no parking at the main venue.
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Photo source ·Origins and History of YOSAKOI Soran Festival
The festival was conceived after Hokkaido University students experienced the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi Prefecture.
In December 1991, 5 student friends formed an organizing committee, and the first festival was held in June 1992.
It initially featured 10 teams, 1,000 participants, and 3 venues, but later grew in scale, with its organizing body also transitioning in stages.
Official information
The festival is organized by the YOSAKOI Soran Festival Organizing Committee.
It is co-hosted by Sapporo City, the Sapporo Tourist Association, and the Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with support from the Hokkaido Shimbun and others.
YOSAKOI Soran Festival at a Glance
The YOSAKOI Soran Festival is a large-scale dance festival in Sapporo, born from a blend of Kochi's Yosakoi Festival and Hokkaido's Soran Bushi folk song.
Performances featuring naruko clappers, fans, and large flags take place both on stage and in parades.
You can enjoy each team's presentation and judging as you visit venues around the city, centered on Odori Park West 8-chome.
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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