Otaru, a popular tourist destination in Hokkaido, has its biggest summer event, the Otaru Ushio Festival. In 2025, the festival will be held from July 25th (Friday) to 27th (Sunday), kicking off with the "Ushio Furekomi" dance parade through the city, and culminating with a spectacular fireworks display on the final day. This article will introduce the highlights of the Otaru Ushio Festival, which attracts over one million visitors every year.

The Otaru Ushio Festival began in 1967, and this year marks its 59th anniversary. It is a citizen-participation festival that began as a way to express gratitude to the sea, pray for the development of Otaru, and bring vitality to the town. This year, the festival will be held for three days from July 25th (Friday) to 27th (Sunday) under the theme "The heartbeat of our hometown resonating with the tides."

On the first day, to announce the start of the festival to the whole city, the Shiofurekomi is held, where people dance and parade through the streets. The Shiofurekomi starts from Yanagawa Street, accompanied by floats and the sound of tide drums, and proceeds to the base of Otaru Port Pier No. 3, the main venue.

The opening ceremony will feature the "Holy Water Offering," in which holy water drawn from Ishikari Bay is offered, a lighting ceremony, and a dance performance on stage with the tide flowing in.

On the second day, neighborhood associations, schools, and businesses from around the city will form groups and parade to the tune of Ushio Ondo from the shopping street Sun Mall Ichibangai in the city center to the harbor in the "Ushio Nerikomi" parade. There will also be a "Tobiiri DE Odori Tai" dance group that anyone can join in on the day of the parade.

On the final day, several groups of people carry the mikoshi from Sun Mall Ichibangai to the main venue in a valiant manner. The sight of the mikoshi undulating amidst spirited shouts is a spectacular sight.

On the final day, Sunday the 27th, there will be a "Drone Show" from 7:40 PM, followed by a "Grand Fireworks Display" from 8:00 PM. During the drone show, the lyrics and sheet music of the classic song "Love Will Win" will be projected onto the Otaru night sky by drones, while the Grand Fireworks Display will feature approximately 5,000 fireworks, bringing the festival to a dazzling finale. A paid viewing area (3 Minatomachi, Otaru City) will be set up for the fireworks display, where you can also enjoy the fireworks reflected on the sea.

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

Enjoy Otaru's biggest summer event, the Otaru Ushio Festival!

In addition, there will be various stage shows at the main venue, as well as food and festival tents and food truck stalls, all of which will add excitement to the three days of summer in Otaru. Come and join us at Otaru's biggest summer festival!

*Photos show past events

The 59th Otaru Ushio Festival

■Date and time: July 25th (Fri) - 27th (Sun), 2025 ■Main venue (stage, stalls): Base of Otaru Port Pier No. 3 / Tide-in, tide-kneading, and portable shrine parade start: City center Click here for map information and details of the 59th Otaru Ushio Festival

*The information posted is current as of the time of publication. *The information posted may be subject to change, so please check the official website for the latest information.