The Ohara Festival (Ohara Matsuri) is Kagoshima city’s largest and liveliest festival, held every year in early November. Its centrepiece is a huge mass street dance in which around 20,000 participants — organised into teams from companies, schools and community groups, dressed in matching happi coats, yukata and colourful costumes — dance together down the city’s main streets to the infectious rhythm of local folk songs, above all the famous ‘Ohara-bushi’. The dancers move in long processions performing the traditional choreographed steps, filling the heart of the city with music, colour and festive energy over the festival days, watched by huge crowds lining the route. Food stalls and side events add to the atmosphere. Joyful, communal and full of local pride, the Ohara Matsuri is the perfect time to experience Kagoshima’s warm southern spirit — check the exact dates, as it’s held on set days each November.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Kagoshima City, Kagoshima |
| Hours | Day on festival dates (early Nov) |
| Admission | Free to watch |
| Time needed | Half day |
| Best time | Early November (annual) |
What to See
- A mass street dance of some 20,000 dancers.
- Teams in matching happi coats and colourful costumes.
- The catchy ‘Ohara-bushi’ folk song and rhythm.
- Food stalls and a festive city atmosphere.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Sengan-en Garden in the city.
- Pair with kurobuta pork at a festival meal.
- Read our Kagoshima overview .
Getting There
- By tram/foot: to the central main streets of the city.
- On foot: the dance fills central Kagoshima.
Tips
Come to the central streets on the festival days in early November to watch the huge Ohara-bushi mass dance, arriving early for a good spot along the route. Enjoy the food stalls and festive atmosphere, check the exact dates as they’re fixed each year, and pair it with the city’s other sights and kurobuta pork.
