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
2016.10.07
Naha Giant Tug-of-War is certified “The biggest!” [Festival]
The Naha Giant Tug-of-War is the world’s largest tug-of-war, properly documented and certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997. The annual event brings tens of thousa...
2016.09.26
Kadena Town hosts festival for its great savior Noguni Soukan [Festival]
Although no one even knows his real name, no one denies that a Ryukyu Kingdom government official known as Noguni Soukan, was a savior of generations of Okinawan people when...
2016.09.19
Futenma Flight Line Festival showcases Marine hardware [Festival]
Get ready for some sizzling summer fun, food and free entertainment at the MCAS Futenma Flight Line Festival Saturday, Sep. 24 and Sunday, Sep. 25. Once again this year, the Flight...
2016.09.19
Tropa 2016 – music party on Ginowan Tropical Beach [Festival]
Tropical Beach in Ginowan is one of the most popular beaches on the island, mostly because of its easy access and free parking areas nearby. And to prove that Okinawa’s long hot su...
2016.09.16
Motobu festival draws on bull and goat fighting [Festival]
The Motobu Tourism and Culture Festival was scheduled for this Saturday, but approaching typhoon Malakas made organizers to change their minds, and the festival is now re-scheduled...
2016.09.09
Aha Dam Festival highlights magnificent nature [Festival]
Although Okinawa has plenty of rainfall every year, it used to suffer from regular water shortages in the past, because of its porous limestone soil is not very good for preserving...
2016.09.09
Itoman Tug-of-War marks end of summer [Festival]
Farmers and fishermen have always paid tribute to the Gods, seeking favor for good harvests and large catches of fish in their nets. One of the traditions to gain favors with the G...
2016.09.03
Tomarin Fest promotes outer island products and foods [Festival]
Anyone who wants to travel smaller islands off Okinawa has to go through Tomari Port in Naha. The terminal building for the ferries that connect Okinawa to Tokashiki, Zamami, Aguni...
2016.09.01
Hansen Festival is built on Rock’n Roll and plenty of fun [Festival]
What better time of the year for one of the hottest festivals on the island? One of the most popular summer festivals MCCS has to offer is almost here – The Hansen Fest that ...
2016.08.24
Two nights of entertainment and cold suds [Festival]
While the All Okinawa Eisa Festival provides for the soul, the Orion Beer Festival next to the athletic grounds provides the ingredients to nourish the body. Orion Beer is Okinawa’...
2016.08.24
Nothing is more Okinawan than Eisa [Festival]
If the sounds of sanshin are the music of Okinawa’s soul, Eisa is the soul itself. Although based on religious bon-dances that were performed to entertain the spirits of the depart...
2016.08.19
Kunigami Festival invites people to have fun among nature [Festival]
Kunigami Village stretches over the northernmost area of the main island of Okinawa, and has a rather small population of less than 6,000 residents. But instead of people it has pl...
2016.08.19
Takahanari Shima-ashibi mid summer on Miyagi Island [Festival]
Visiting eisa festivals in local small hamlets is an uniquely charming experience as local residents put together and perform all programs. These events are not organized to entert...
2016.08.16
Itoman Festival weekend highlights hometown culture, fishing traditions [Festival]
The northern side of the Itoman Fishing Port is the venue of the 28th Itoman Sea & Summer Festival on Aug. 20 and 21. On the same dates but on the southern side of the port, th...
2016.08.16
Itoman festival offers real-life job try-outs for children [Festival]
Throughout the year Okinawa has a number of festivals aimed at demonstrating children how adults make money and what different jobs are all about. These festivals are considered an...
2016.08.11
Ogimi Summer Festival concentrates on country fun [Festival]
Known for the longevity of its residents, Ogimi Village in the northern part of the island hosts its annual summer festival on Aug. 13 and 14 that features performances by local Ok...
2016.08.08
Hagoromo Fest kachashi contest rescheduled [Festival]
As Moher Nature refused to cooperate and decided to send a massive thunder front to Okinawa on Sunday, organizers were forced to postpone Sunday part of the Ginowan Hagoromo Festiv...
2016.08.04
Higashi Festival aims to keep visitors busy [Festival]
Higashi Village is busy making sure everything is ready for its annual summer festival taking place this Saturday, Aug. 6. Higashi is an active community of some 2,000 people on th...
2016.08.01
Naha’s annual 10,000-dancer Eisa extravaganza [Festival]
Kokusai Street in the center of Naha is one of the best-known sightseeing destinations in Okinawa. There are myriads of restaurants, souvenir and accessory shops, and always, large...
2016.07.28
Cold beer and blue skies mark Nago Summer Festival [Festival]
Blue skies and beer are the themes for the 38th Nago Summer Festival that takes place at Nago Fishing Port on July 30 and 31st. Besides fresh Orion beer from the nearby brewery, th...
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