Get ready for a summer night of dance, food, and community at the Kobe Umi no Bon Odori, which takes place around mid-August at Meriken Park. This popular annual festival invites both locals and visitors alike to form circles and dance to folk songs from across Japan, alongside other tunes unique to Kobe.
This year’s event is extra special, marking 30 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Before the dancing begins, local children will perform "Shiawase Hakoberu Youni" or "Bring Happiness to the World" (a memorial song created after the quake) in remembrance, and a disaster prevention booth will offer hands-on workshops, including one on how to make tableware from origami paper in the case of an emergency. Beyond the dancing, visitors can browse sponsor booths, and explore around 40 food trucks serving up everything from craft beer to yakisoba and even sweet treats. A dedicated kid's area will keep little ones happy with nostalgic yo-yo fishing, toy scooping, and ring toss games.
Admission is free of charge (do bring yen if you plan on grabbing a bite to eat), and the festival will be going ahead even in the case of light rain. It will be cancelled if there are storms, however, so checking the weather forecast before attending is advised. For more details, visit the official event page.
Getting there
For the easiest access, use public transport. Meriken Park is approximately 10 minutes on foot from Motomachi Station, which is served by the JR Kobe Line, the Hanshin Main Line, and the Hanshin Kōbe Kōsoku Line.
More info
Find out more about Meriken Park.
Kim Bergström @kim.b
Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here. 🍵🌼🌸
