Yosakoi Soran Festival

Yosakoi Soran Festival is Sapporo’s signature early summer festival, held over five days in June with over 30,000 participants performing a dance style that blends the high-energy yosakoi tradition from Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku with the Soran Bushi fishing song from Hokkaido. Since its founding in 1992, it has grown into one of Hokkaido’s largest festivals, attracting over two million spectators across the run and drawing dance teams from across Japan and internationally.

The Dance

Yosakoi-style dance is defined by two rules: each performer must carry a naruko - a pair of wooden clappers that produce a sharp crack with each movement - and the group’s music must include a version of the Soran Bushi melody. Beyond these requirements, the choreography, music, and costumes are entirely at the discretion of each team, which produces a festival where every performance looks and sounds radically different from the last. Teams of between 10 and 200 performers compete across five days, with results announced at the final Saturday evening grand finale at Odori Park.

The costumes are some of the most elaborate in Japanese festival culture. Designs range from traditional cotton happi coats and headbands in bold patterns to elaborate fantasy costumes with handmade headpieces, LED elements, and coordinated colour schemes that shift during the performance. The naruko clappers - also made and decorated by each team - are brought as souvenirs and gifts.

Where to Watch

Performances take place at multiple venues across central Sapporo: the main stages at Odori Park, the Sapporo Factory shopping complex, the Odori-nishi area, and at outdoor blocks in Susukino. A performance map and schedule is available from the festival’s official website before each year’s event. The Odori Park main stage draws the largest crowds; arriving 30 minutes before a headline team performs is advisable. Performances at the Sapporo Factory and at neighbourhood outdoor stages are typically less crowded and give a closer viewing position.

Getting There

Sapporo is served by New Chitose Airport with direct flights from Tokyo (approximately 1.5 hours from Haneda), Osaka, Nagoya, and other major cities. From the airport, the JR Rapid Airport train reaches Sapporo Station in 37 minutes. The festival venues are served by the Namboku, Tozai, and Toho subway lines in central Sapporo. See our Sapporo guide for accommodation and food recommendations in the city.

Tips

June in Sapporo averages 14-20°C - considerably cooler than Tokyo or Osaka at the same time. A light jacket for evening performances is useful. The final grand performance at Odori Park on 14 June is the most spectacular but also the most crowded; the earlier days offer comparable quality with easier access to the stages.