Gujo Odori is counted as one of Japan’s three major Bon dances, alongside Awa Odori in Tokushima and Nishimonai Bon Odori in Akita. In 2022, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of Japan’s folk performing arts known as Furyu-odori. One of its defining features is that it is danced over more than 30 nights from mid-July to early September, and it is known as Japan’s longest-running Bon dance festival.
The highlight is the “Tetsuya Odori,” or all-night dance, held over four days during the Obon season. Every night, people keep dancing nonstop from 8pm to 5am the next morning (on some days, until 4am). As the hours pass, the circles of dancers expand into three and four layers, creating a spectacular scene unique to Gujo Odori.
The space filled with shamisen, taiko drums, flutes, and festival chanting is impressive even just to watch, but anyone can join the Bon dance, so give it a try. One of the charms of Gujo Odori is that if you simply move your hands and feet, you will naturally start to get the hang of it. To enjoy it even more, be sure to get the “three essentials” of Gujo Odori: a hand towel, geta sandals, and a rental yukata.
Highlights
-
Counted as one of Japan’s three major Bon dances.
-
A long-running Bon dance festival held for more than 30 days.
-
The all-night dancing during Obon is spectacular.
-
One of its defining features is that anyone can join.
-
The Bon dance is held in a different part of town each day.
