Hinokuni Festival

A summer festival representing Kumamoto, rich in local flavor, that began in 1978 and draws large crowds every year.

The main event of the festival is the “Otemoyan So Odori,” held every year on the night of the first Saturday of August, with Approx. 50 groups and 5,000 participants. Dressed in distinctive costumes of their own design, participants dance through the streets around Kumamoto City Hall to songs such as “Otemoyan,” a folk song that represents Kumamoto, and the lively carnival-style “Samba Otemoyan.”

If you want to watch the dancing up close, purchasing reserved viewing seats is recommended. If watching alone is not enough and you want to dance in the streets yourself, you can also join on the spot. By joining the “Walk-in Group (first come, first served),” you can take part in the circle of dancers after a simple practice session.

From the day before the main group dance, a full lineup of events is held over three days, including arcade events in the city center and gourmet events at Hanabata Hiroba in Karashima-cho.