1 The 77th Obihiro Plains Festival, the largest summer festival in the Tokachi region (Obihiro City)

Image credit: Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association

One of the largest summer festivals in the Tokachi-ken region will be held in Obihiro, and on the first day, local youth will lead a parade of male and female portable shrines called "Yume Furuyoru 2024" through the festival site.

(Image credit: Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association)

On the evening of the second day, the "Obihiro Bon Odori," a dance performance with elaborate costumes and live music by the participating teams to the accompaniment of Hokkai Bon Uta, will enliven the festival night. Other events will include performances by street performers from around the world and the "Kitchen Hirabaru," a gourmet plaza lined with various gourmet stores, kitchen cars, and drink booths.

2 The 51st Iwanai Rage Festival" (Iwanai Town), a spectacular fireworks display over Iwanai Port

Image credit: Iwanai Town

This is a summer festival that has been held in Iwanai Town for half a century. The highlight of the festival, the "raging fireworks display," beautifully colors the night sky of Iwanai with approximately 5,000 fireworks, and the fireworks shot up in a rage at Iwanai Port are a powerful spectacle.

Image credit: Iwanai Town

There will also be a live stage, a magic show, and performances by Iwanai High School's calligraphy club, brass band, and taiko drum bureau. There will be a food stall village, kitchen car booths, flea market, children's fair square, and other spaces for children and adults to enjoy.

3 Enjoy Nemuro's Hanasaki Crab "2024 Nemuro Crab Festival" (Nemuro City)

Image credit: Nemuro City Tourism Association

An event to savor the tastes of Nemuro. At the venue, in addition to direct sales of crab, crab gourmet foods and gourmet foods only available at the venue will be offered. There will also be local entertainment, singing shows, and other stages, as well as a participatory "Crab-catcher battle! and a "Quick Eating Contest" will also be held, allowing visitors to enjoy the local specialty, Hanasaki Crab, to their heart's content.

4 Numata-cho Yataka Andon Festival, the only fighting dandong in Hokkaido (Numata Town)

Image credit: Numata-cho Yataka Andon Festival

One of the three major dandon festivals in Hokkaido, the "Yotaka Dandon Festival" is the only "fighting dandon" in Hokkaido where large dandons collide with each other. The sight of these large dandongs, each measuring 7 meters high, 12 meters long, and weighing 5 tons, colliding with each other is a powerful sight.

(Image credit: Hokkaido Tourism Promotion Organization)

In addition to the drum, flute, and Yotaka-bushi music that enlivens the festival, the spectacular parade of the dances through the streets is a must-see.

5 "Kotoni Marche" (Sapporo), where gourmet foods and handmade works gather in a theater

Image credit: NPO Concarinho

Kotoni Marche," which started last year, has been powered up to a two-day event. Stores of various genres will participate, selling everything from vegetables and sweets to handmade works, as well as health counseling booths. In addition, there will be kids' art workshops, a mini-stage, street piano, and more, making the theater the venue for this "anything goes theater marché.

6 "Mikasa Hokkai Bon Odori" dance around a giant yagura (Mikasa City)

Image credit: Mikasa City

This is a major summer event representing Mikasa. Various events are held for three days in Mikasa, the birthplace of the "Hokkai Bon Dance. In addition to Bon Dancing, there will be the "Coal Cutlass Race" in which contestants compete by carrying 30 kg of coal, which has become a regular event, Mikasa Bon Lanterns, and stage shows. Fireworks to be launched on the final day will conclude the three hot days of the festival.

7 The 43rd Shikabe Sea and Hot Spring Festival & Fireworks Display, one of the largest fireworks displays in southern Hokkaido, in the town of hot springs (Shikabe Town)

Image credit: Shikabe Town

The largest festival in Shikabe Town takes place right next to the fishing port. There are many sea-related events such as "Cutter Rowing" using cutter boards, in which heated battles take place in the harbor, and "Fureai Aquarium," where visitors can see and touch sea creatures.

Image credit: Shikabe Town

The climax of the festival is one of the largest fireworks displays in southern Hokkaido. Approximately 3,400 various fireworks and a super extra-large starmine beautifully illuminate the Eruption Bay, attracting many spectators every year. The fireworks are launched right in front of the fishing port where the festival is held, making it a very powerful event.

8 The 27th Kenbuchi Sakuraoka Lake Festival" (Kenbuchi Town), a must-see with fireworks projected on the lake

Image credit: Kenbuchi Town Tourist Association

This festival is held on the shores of Lake Sakuraoka, which is also known as a camping and wakasagi fishing spot. Various stage events are scheduled, including cheerleading performances, stage shows such as enka, idol and comedy performances, Yosakoi soran, Kenbuchi Tondadaiko drums and belly dancing.

(Image credit: Kenbuchi Tourist Association)

There will also be picture book readings and gourmet food stalls from the local neighborhood, as only "Kenbuchi, the Village of Picture Books" can offer. Don't miss the beautiful fireworks display that will close the festival and reflect on the surface of the lake.

9 Workshop "GIGA Festival in Sapporo International University" where you can see, touch and feel the future

Image credit: GIGA Festival in Sapporo International University

Workshops for both young children and adults will be held at Sapporo International University, offering e-sports, metaverse, and drone experiences, as well as programming, generative AI, AR, and more. There will also be a mystery-solving session in the library. Families can enjoy workshops where they can feel the future.

10 Enjoy a luxurious taste of sea urchin at the "Uni Uni Festival" (Rishirifuji Town)

Image credit: Rishipura (Rishiri Island Tourism Portal Site)

This event is held in honor of sea urchin, a specialty of Rishirifuji Town. At the food and beverage corner, various gourmet dishes such as grilled sea urchin and mini sea urchin bowls are prepared for visitors to enjoy the luxurious and delicious taste of sea urchin. A sea urchin eating contest will also be held on stage.

11 Proximity is the biggest attraction of the 6,000 fireworks "The 28th Honbetsu Kirameki Town Festival 2024" (Honbetsu Town)

Image credit: Honbetsu Town

The "Higashi-Tokachi Fireworks Festival," where 6,000 fireworks are launched, is a very popular event. Various types of fireworks are rhythmically launched to music. The biggest attraction of the Higashi Tokachi Fireworks Festival is the close proximity of the launch site and the lack of obstructed views.

Image credit: Honbetsu Town

In addition to the fireworks, there will also be a good food market and a singing show. The venue, the Tolibetsu River riverbed area, is entirely grassy, and leisure seats and compact sunshades can be set up. Chairs and tables are also available for visitors to relax and enjoy the event.

12 Heated Tractor Pulling Competition "The 25th Naganuma Maoi Dream Festival" (Naganuma Town)

Image credit: Naganuma Town

A major event held in Naganuma Town, located about one hour from Sapporo, features the "Strong Cup," in which teams of three compete to win the fastest time pulling a tractor, the "Zu Keen Cup," a shaved ice eating contest, and a stamp-rally style bingo tournament. In addition, there will be a new BQQ corner where visitors can enjoy the local specialty, Genghis Khan. With stage events, stalls, and tractor rides, this is a festival that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

13 Free and creative ikebana close at hand "Ikebana Sogetsu Hana LIVE IN SAPPORO" (Sapporo)

Image credit: Ikebana Sogetsu Sapporo Hana LIVE Group

An event where people can casually experience ikebana. Under the motto of "anytime, anywhere, for anyone," the Ikebana Sogetsu Sapporo Hana LIVE Group will give ikebana demonstrations. Visitors can experience the charm of free and creative ikebana.

14 Participatory photography event to enjoy in the town of photography "The 40th Higashikawa Town International Photography Festival" (Higashikawa Town)

Image credit: Higashikawa Town Photography Town Executive Committee

This event is unique to Higashikawa, a town known for its photography. Under the concept of "Enjoy Photography," many photography-related activities will be held, including the "Higashikawa Town of Photography Award-winning Artists' Exhibition," "Street Gallery," "Photography Independence Exhibition," and "Open Portfolio Review.

15 "The 6th Children's Art Brut Hokkaido Mirai Works Exhibition" (Sapporo)

(Image credit: Hokkaido Council of Cultural Organizations)

The theme of the exhibition is "The future of art shines freely in the same place for children with and without disabilities. This is an exhibition of art works created by elementary and junior high school students of compulsory education schools, secondary schools, and special-needs schools under the theme of "The Future of Art Shines Freely in the Same Place for Children with and without Disabilities. The works by the children will be displayed in the exhibition hall. In addition, this year, for the first time, there will be a "Web Exhibition" that can be viewed on the Internet.