Festival
Pick Up Stories
Itoman Haaray; a traditional and fun eve… [CULTURE Festival]
The Itoman Haaray takes place on the May 4th of the Lunar Calendar. This day is actually June 18th 2026 of the Gregorian Calendar. Most peop...Read More
Chasing the Dragon – The Naha Haarii [Festival]
The Naha Haarii Festival will happen during Golden Week from May 3-5, 10:00 ~ 19:00 at the Naha New Port. Haarii — meaning “dragon boat” in ...Read More
Golden Week, Japan’s Mega Holiday [CULTURE Family Festival]
Spring is here. And in Japan that means warmer weather, cherry blossoms, and rainy season. But, before the rainy season takes hold and shrou...Read More
2014.12.21
Annual Christmas Fantasy delights at Okinawa Zoo [Festival]
By Bill Charles Snowflakes aren’t actually forecast to fall over Okinawa this holiday season, but the Christmas Fantasy being staged at Okinawa Kodomono Kuni, the Okinawa Zoo, is p...
2014.12.19
Bonsai, yams highlight Uruma City Industry Fair [Festival]
Industry fairs are always fun to see, and the local goodies and specialties in Uruma City will gather this weekend in order for more people to know them. Uruma City was created in ...
2014.12.19
Sun is ‘re-born’ at Sunday’s Waka Tida [Festival]
The Waka Tida is a tradition in Nakagusuku and Kitanakagusuku, as communities committed to preserving ancient ceremonies and culture pays homage to the sun. The Waka Tida Welcoming...
2014.12.15
Christmas Music Hanabi Festival is ‘Okinawa first’ [Festival]
The X’mas Music Hanabi Festival in Okinawa is being introduced on Saturday, Dec. 20, a brand new event for the island. A part of an annual Ryukyu Kaiensai fireworks event that usua...
2014.12.12
Ginoza Gourmet Burger Festival on tap for Sunday [Festival]
What began as a marketing and promotion plan by a small Okinawa village to gain island-wide attention has mushroomed into a burger festival on Sunday. This 2nd Okinawa Burger Festi...
2014.12.05
Agricultural College Festival set for weekend in Nago [Festival]
The 12th Nou-Dai Festival, the Okinawa Prefecture Agricultural College festival, reaching out to people who like gardening and growing vegetables and fruits, or are interested in f...
2014.12.04
World Festival in Machigwa heralds world’s music [Festival]
The multi-national World Festival in Machigwa returns to Okinawa Saturday, featuring the music from more than a dozen countries. The World Festival in Machigwa premiered in Naha Ci...
2014.12.04
Holiday spirit settles for weekend on Camp Courtney [Festival]
Christmas is just around the corner, and whether the stockings have been hung by the chimneys with care, Marine Corps Community Services on Okinawa is ready to spread some holiday ...
2014.11.27
Jolly ‘ol St. Nick to visit International Carnival [Festival]
By Bill Charles Santa Claus arrives to town this weekend, and his debut is just the tip of the entertainment options at the Okinawa City International Carnival. The Okinawa City In...
2014.11.27
Three-day Musix rolls into KOZA [Festival]
The Okinawa International Asia Music Festival ‘Musix in Koza’ is bringing an exciting slate of performers to stage in Okinawa City, beginning with a joint concert with traditional ...
2014.11.23
Crafts meet sweets at Manmaru Fair [Festival]
It’s a crafts market, but it is also a fair filled with foods and sweets stalls, and the combination draws larges crowns from across Okinawa. It’s the 10th Manmaru Fair, a gatherin...
2014.11.21
Kitanakagusuku Festival features sumo, music [Festival]
The 29th Kitanakagusuku Festival kicks off Saturday with traditional performing arts and a folk song show by local people of Kitanakagusuku Village, tosses in an Okinawa Sumo compe...
2014.11.21
Pottery artisans ready for long weekend festival [Festival]
More than 20 of Okinawa’s top pottery craftsmen come together each year to share their techniques and wares, and this year’s 35th Tsuboya Pottery Festival comes in conjunction with...
2014.11.06
Festival features 44 organizations promoting international exchange [Festival]
A festival designed to expand peoples’ support and understanding toward international cooperation and exchange is slated this weekend at JICA Okinawa International Center in Urasoe...
2014.11.06
Zanpa JAM 2014 marks ‘Last Summer Dance’ [Festival]
Zanpa JAM, a two-day open-air music festival connecting with locals and the world, is coming to Zanpa Cape Park on Saturday and Sunday. For the two days in a row, a variety of popu...
2014.10.27
Shuri Castle Festival walks visitors through history [Festival]
One of Okinawa’s three main festivals is set to begin on Friday, Oct. 31st, on the grounds of Shuri Castle. The Shuri Castle Festival runs from Friday through Monday, Nov. 3rd, foc...
2014.10.25
Halloween is season for witches, goblins and trick-or-treaters [Festival]
By Bill Charles Halloween: a time for playing pranks and tricks, conjuring up witches, goblins and haunted houses, and of course, kids looking for candy. But really! Where’d this...
2014.10.23
Ginoza Village Festival blends tradition with pops [Festival]
Ginoza Village is hosting its biggest biennial festival this weekend, bringing both traditional performing arts and popular Okinawan musicians on the stage. Okinawa’s young jazz si...
2014.10.23
Industrial Fair shares the best Okinawa produces [Festival]
A three-day Industrial Fair highlighting the very best of everything Okinawa makes, grows or processes begins Friday at Onoyama Park in Naha City. The 38th annual Okinawa Industria...
2014.10.23
40th Yomitan Festival taps into rich history, trading traditions [Festival]
Yomitan Village is surrounded by sugar cane farms, rich nature and beautiful blue Ocean, and just perfect for the village’s big festival coming up starting Friday. Yomitan, which i...
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