On November 2 and 3, 2026, Kagoshima’s Ohara Festival fills the tram avenue through Tenmonkan with about 17,000 dancers moving together to local folk songs. It is the largest festival in southern Kyushu.
THE FESTIVAL
The festival began in 1949. Its heart is the So-odori, a mass street dance to “Ohara-bushi,” “Kagoshima Hanya-bushi” and “Shibuya Ondo,” along roughly 1.5 kilometres of the central tram avenue. An evening festival opens on November 2; the main festival is held during the day on November 3.
HOW TO ATTEND
Free to watch from along the avenue. Visitors can also join on the day as a tobiiri-ren, a drop-in dance group.
- Dates: Nov 2, 18:50-20:30; Nov 3, 10:20-15:25, 2026
- Venue: Central tram avenue, about 1,480 m, Tenmonkan area
- Admission: Free to watch; drop-in participation available
- Official Info: Kagoshima Yokanavi
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Tenmonkan is Kagoshima’s downtown, walkable and full of food. Pair the festival with Sakurajima, Sengan-en Garden and the city’s hot springs.
Source: Kagoshima City | Kagoshima Yokanavi