Held at 17 venues! A big event that turns Kochi City into a festival!

The Yosakoi Festival is a carnival that symbolizes summer in Tosa, a southern island of Kochi, and was first organized in 1954 by volunteers of the Kochi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to cheer up the citizens of Kochi in the midst of the post-World War II economic recession.
In 1992, fascinated by the Yosakoi Festival, students in Hokkaido organized the Yosakoi Soran Festival in Sapporo. This sparked a Yosakoi fever that spread throughout Japan, and Yosakoi festivals have been actively planned in various regions. Today, the festival has expanded to such a scale that a national competition is held, and it has become familiar to people all over Japan.
On August 10 and 11, about 200 teams of 18,000 dancers from Japan and overseas will perform energetically at 17 venues (9 competition sites and 8 performance sites) in the center of Kochi City. Approximately 1 million spectators visit from all over Japan.

Schedule of "Yosakoi Festival" events in 2025 (tentative)

Saturday, August 9: Tosa Student Yosakoi Festival, eve of the festival, Kochi City Noryo Fireworks Festival

▼August 10 (Sun) & 11 (Mon): Yosakoi Festival main event

▼August 12 (Tue): Yosakoi National Tournament, Later Night Festival

Four basic rules, but upgrade your dance by adding your team's color

There are four main rules of participation in the Yosakoi Festival.

(1) The dancers must dance while moving forward by sounding Naruko, a musical instrument consisting of a wooden "shoji"-shaped board with a bachi attached to both sides of it.
This is a unique feature of the Yosakoi Festival.
(2) The music must include a part (phrase) of "Yosakoi Naruko Odori," the traditional music of this festival.
As long as this is adhered to, the rhythm and melody can be freely arranged.
(3) Each team may have up to 150 members.
4) Each team must prepare a local vehicle to lead the dancers.

Because of the simplicity and freedom of the rules, each team pursues its own originality by devising a variety of dances, songs, and costumes. The performance is heated up as the teams give their best.

What to look for at the Yosakoi Festival

Dancing, music, costumes, Naruko (a Japanese harp) sounding, and local cars are the standard elements that determine the "Yosakoi Grand Prize," and are also the highlights of the festival. The sight of about 100 dancers in one team dancing in unison is especially moving, full of enthusiasm and spirit. The choreography, which includes hip-hop and samba styles, is unique, and the music is diverse, ranging from traditional songs to rock band music and trendy arrangements.
The glittering costumes are another attraction. Each team pays close attention to the details of their costumes, which are designed with Japanese motifs, bright colors, and stylish styles, to attract the audience.

The teams' symbolic, ornately decorated regional cars are also a must-see. On top of the local cart is a mini-stage on which microphone performers and taiko drummers also stand. Some of the cars are decorated with neon lights and dry ice, adding to the excitement of the festival.

How to enjoy each spectator site?

Of the 17 venues, special stages are set up in Chuo Park and Kochi Castle Performance Hall. The Chuo Park Stage in particular has a large screen, allowing spectators to enjoy a live performance.
The other venues are street performance style. The Obiyacho Enbujo, Kyomachi Enbujo, and Harimayabashi Enbujo are set in shopping arcades, allowing the audience to get close to the dancers and feel their enthusiasm.
The Otesuji Headquarters Performance Hall is the venue for the largest number of teams, and seats are provided for the dancers. The north and south sides of the road are the most impressive places to watch the teams perform their dances one after the other.
During the festival, the dedicated Yosakoi Festival website "Dokoiko Service Neo" is useful. The site provides real-time information on each team, their touring schedule, and estimated waiting time at the venue.

Dokoiko Service Neo
URL: https: //dokoiko.tosanonatsu.com/

Tourists can also become dancers! Experience the festival by jumping in!

On the 10th and 11th, the festival day, "Citizens' Charter Yosakoi Dancing Team," a team of dancers who can jump in, will be formed. There is no age limit, and anyone who wants to dance can join for free. The dances are arranged to be easy to remember from the regular choreography, so beginners are also welcome. The procedure for participation is simple. After accepting the application on the day of the parade, participants practice the dance for about an hour, and then depart for the parade. The parade starts at the Otesuji Headquarters performance hall, passes through the Obiyacho dance hall, and heads to the stage at the Chuo Park performance hall.
However, do not forget to bring your own Naruko. Naruko are available for sale near the reception desk, and there is a handmade workshop (takes about 15 minutes, 1,500 yen per pair), so you can also bring your own Naruko.

▼ Citizens' Charter Yosakoi Dancing Team
URL: https: //www.city.kochi.kochi.jp/soshiki/21/shiminkensyouyosakoi.html
Schedule: August 10 (Sun.) & 11 (Mon.) *Times are approximate.
14:00 Registration starts
14:30 Practice begins
16:00 Departure ceremony
17:00 Performance at Otesuji Headquarters
18:00 Performance at Obiyacho performance hall
19:00 Performance on the stage at the Central Park performance hall
Participation fee: Free of charge, 1,000 yen per paper happi if purchased
How to participate: Register at the entrance of the gymnasium of Kochi Otemae High School (2-2-10 Otesuji, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture) on the day of the event.
Conditions for participation: Bring your health insurance card (photocopy acceptable) and Naruko. Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
TEL: 088-823-9080 (Regional Community Promotion Division, Kochi City Hall), Naruko sales and handmade classes: 088-873-0821 (Naruko Workshop Kodakasa / Kodakasaka Rehabilitation Center)

On the day before the main event, there will be a fireworks display on the largest scale in Kochi Prefecture.

On the 9th, the day before the main event, the "Tosa Student Yosakoi Festival" will be held at Kochi Castle Performance Hall during the daytime, and in the evening, the eve of the festival (paid seating available) will be held at Chuo Park, where the winning teams from the previous festival will perform their dances.
The Kochi City Noryo Fireworks Festival will also be held on the banks of Kagamigawa River, which runs near both venues. As one of the largest fireworks displays in Kochi Prefecture, with approximately 4,000 shots, visitors can see elaborate fireworks such as the Starmine, which features rapid-firing continuous shots, and the No. 8 ball. The most dynamic fireworks are those that can be seen at a close distance of approximately 100 meters from the launching site and the 650-meter-long Niagara, one of the largest in western Japan.
The best place to experience the powerful sound and size of the fireworks is at the viewing site, but it is also recommended to enjoy the fireworks with the dancers' performance at the eve of the festival, which is about 1 km away.

The 75th Kochi City Noryo Fireworks Festival
URL: https: //welcome-kochi.jp/event/hanabi
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025, 19:45-21:00
Same day every year regardless of the day of the week.
In case of stormy weather, the event will be postponed to August 13 (Wed.) at the same time, and cancelled in case of stormy weather on August 13 (Wed.) as well.
Venue: Near "Midori-no-hiroba" (Green Plaza) by Kagamigawa River, Kochi City (1-3-14 Takasho-cho, Kochi City)
Admission: All seats are paid for; advance purchase of tickets required.
Pipe chair seats: 2,000 yen per seat
Mass seats: 4,800 yen and up, etc.
Early-bird rates available for purchase by 7/3. Check ticket information for details.
TEL: 088-823-4016 (Kochi City Tourist Association)

Yosakoi National Tournament" and post-festival festivities will be a grand ending to the festival

On the 12th, the finale of the festival, "Yosakoi National Tournament" will be held. There will be four venues for the event: Otesuji Stadium, where there will be plank seats, Chuo Park Stadium, Kochi Castle Performance Hall, and Obiyacho Performance Hall. Entries come not only from all over Japan, but also from overseas, with 49 groups participating every year. In addition to seeing the unique dances, participants can also enjoy competing with other teams that have won prizes at the Yosakoi Festival. The climax of the festival is the "So Odori Parade" that starts around 9:00 p.m. at Otesuji Stadium. All contestants dance to "Naruko Hana," the official song of the Yosakoi National Tournament, to bring the festival to a spectacular conclusion.
A post-festival festival will also be held at the Central Park Performance Hall, where spectator seats will be provided for a fee. An award ceremony will be held for the 22 teams that impressed many people during the festival.

▼ Traffic regulations (information on 2024 below)
All vehicles are prohibited from passing through the Masugata area, Umenotsuji, Naenba, Atago, and Manyo stadiums on August 10 and 11 from 12:15 to 21:30.
Otesuji Headquarter Performance Hall, Obiyacho Enbujo and surrounding roads will be closed to all vehicles from 12:45 to 22:00 on August 10-12.
For details, please check the website.

Otesuji Headquarters Performance Hall
URL: https: //welcome-kochi.jp/yosakoi/sajikiseki.html
Schedule：10th (Sun.), 11th (Mon.) (Yosakoi Festival), 12th (Tue.) (National Convention)
Venue: Otesuji Headquarters Performance Hall (Otesuji Kochi Otemae High School to Tenri Kochi Grand Church)
Price: Advance tickets for general seats (free for children under 3 years old)
Daytime A seats 2,000 yen, B seats 1,000 yen
Evening session: Seat A: 3,000 yen, Seat B: 2,000 yen
How to purchase tickets: Kochi City Tourist Association website; tickets will be on sale in late June
Same-day tickets will be sold at the West Site only if advance tickets remain.
West Site: 2-9-6-7 Otesuji, Kochi City (outdoor event space next to Otepia), 11:00 - close when sold out
TEL: 088-823-4016 (Kochi City Tourist Association)

▼Central Park Competitive Seating
URL: http: //www.cciweb.or.jp/kochi/yosakoiweb
Dates: Saturday, August 9 (eve of festival), Tuesday, August 12 (after festival)
Venue: Chuo Park (1-11-27 Obiyacho, Kochi City)
Price: Advance tickets for general seating (Children under 3 years old are free only if they are on the lap of a parent or guardian. If you need a seat, you must pay.)
S seats 7,000 yen
A seats 5,000 yen
How to purchase: Sold at Lawson Ticket (in-store Loppi or via web).
Sales period: July 6, 2025 (Sun.) 10:00 - August 6, 2025 (Wed.) 23:59
Same-day tickets will be sold only when advance tickets remain available (check the website for sales locations).
TEL: 088-875-1178 (Yosakoi Festival Promotion Association)

＜Experience the excitement of the Yosakoi Festival even outside the festival period.

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Yosakoi Rakuen LIVE

Original Yosakoi dance shows are held every night!

OMO7 Kochi by Hoshino Resorts, a "Machinaka" hotel where you can experience the lively Yosakoi Festival and Kochi's banquet culture "Okyaku", holds an original Yosakoi dance show "Yosakoi Rakuen Live" every night for the exclusive use of hotel guests. Staff/staff members themselves act as dancers and perform a spectacular dance to the "Sho-Tone Yosakoi Naruko Dance," which is well-known to the people of Kochi Prefecture, and to the original music of OMO7 Kochi by Hoshino Resorts.
The original performance is a collaboration of three leading figures in the Kochi yosakoi world. The name "Raku-en" was coined to express the culture of Kochi, where hospitality is extended to all, and is meant to express the hospitality of Guest/customers, the image of a bright and lively Yosakoi festival, and an Experience-type performance that brings dancers and audience together as one.

Outline of "Yosakoi Rakuen LIVE
Time :21:00~21:30
Place :Grand Staircase of OMO Base (Travelers' Fun Lounge), OMO7 Kochi by Hoshino Resorts
Eligibility :Only for hotel guests
Fee :Free of charge
Reservation :Not required

OMO7 Kochi by Hoshino Resorts

• 9-15 Kutanda, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture MAP
• 3 min. walk from "Naenba-cho" streetcar station.
  3 min. walk from "Naenba-cho" bus stop on the Kochi Ryoma Airport Bus.
• Charged