Hokkaido's summer is jam-packed with events! From spectacular fireworks displays that light up the night sky, traditional festivals, sunflower fields, and interactive events for children, we've carefully selected 15 noteworthy events to help you fully enjoy the Hokkaido summer. Why not head out and discover some exciting new experiences that are only available this summer?

This fireworks festival, one of the largest in Hokkaido, is Tokachi's signature fireworks festival. The theme for 2025 is "Impulse Capture." The festival combines fireworks, music, lighting, and video using cutting-edge computer-controlled technology, and the "Nishiki Kamuro" (crown of gold) at the end is a spectacle worth seeing at least once in your life. Please note that applications for paid viewing seats and free numbered seating, available exclusively to Tokachikan visitors, have already closed.

For three days, midsummer Susukino is enveloped in excitement. Highlights include the "Oiran Dochu" procession, in which courtesans selected through public entries parade around in gorgeous costumes, and the impressive "Mikoshi Togyo" portable shrine procession. Every night, the entire Susukino area becomes a pedestrian paradise, and food stalls selling yakitori, oden, and other dishes appear, making the nights in Susukino even more lively.

This festival is representative of summer in Hakodate. On the first day, colorful fireworks set to music by GLAY and other artists will light up the night sky, signaling the start of the festival in the port town. On the 2nd (Sat) and 3rd (Sun), the citizen participation parade "Wasshoi Hakodate" will be held, with the Port Festival's famous "Hakodate Squid Dance" and "Hakodate Port Dance" parading through the city. There will also be live street performances, stages, and food stalls. The Hakodate City Tram "Flower Train" is also scheduled to operate during the festival, further adding to the festive atmosphere.

This summer festival, held in Esashi Town in southern Hokkaido, boasts a history of around 380 years. 13 gorgeous floats and portable shrines decorated with warrior dolls, Noh puppets, Bunraku puppets, and Kabuki puppets parade through the streets of Esashi. The highlight is the "yadoire" (stay-in) on the final night, when the floats return to the shrine. The excitement of the spectators reaches a fever pitch as the carriers run up the stone steps and repeatedly pass through the torii gates and worship halls. Be sure to experience this traditional festival of Esashi Town, which has been designated an intangible folk cultural asset of Hokkaido.

This festival is considered one of Hokkaido's "three major lantern festivals," and its highlight is the prefecture's only "fighting lanterns." The sight of giant lanterns, each 7 meters high, 12 meters long, and weighing 5 tons, colliding with each other is a spectacular sight. As one of the largest summer festivals in northern Hokkaido, it attracts many tourists every year, combining the beauty and power of the lanterns.

The opening event, the Doshin Summer Fireworks Festival, will feature approximately 4,000 fireworks, including creative fireworks and star mines, illuminating the night sky. Other highlights include the Dance Parade, featuring approximately 2,000 locals, the impressive Mikoshi Procession, and the Fiery Summer Tanabata Festival, which will mark the festival's finale. There will also be stages such as Yosakoi Soran Night and Disco Night, as well as the Daisetsu Sanroku Festival, featuring approximately 50 outdoor stalls.

The largest summer festival in the Tokachi region is held the day after the Katsumago Fireworks Festival. Various events are held, including the Obihiro Bon Dance, featuring dancers with a wide variety of personalities, the Yumefuriya, where male and female mikoshi (portable shrines) parade through the venue, and a passionate taiko drumming performance by musical teams from all over Hokkaido. Street performances and gourmet food stalls are also scheduled.

This festival represents Hokuryu Town, known as the "Town of Sunflowers," and the spectacular sight of 2 million sunflowers spread across the vast fields is a sight to behold. There is also a giant sunflower maze and a "Sunflower Train" tractor ride that takes you around the sunflower fields, allowing families and couples to enjoy a special time surrounded by sunflowers. Local gourmet foods and sweets such as sunflower soft serve and sunflower watermelon will also be available.

The festival's three main parades are the "Tairyo Bayashi Parade," where floats modeled after ships parade through the streets; the "Citizens' Dance Parade," where groups from inside and outside the city dance together; and the "Music Parade," where the sounds of brass bands and other musical groups reverberate throughout the city. Various stalls are set up at the Kushiro Port Earthquake-Resistant Passenger Ship Terminal, and the venue is livened up with live music and dance performances. There are plenty of events to enjoy for both adults and children.

Tomakomai's signature summer festival is celebrating its 70th anniversary. It offers a wide variety of events for all ages, including the "Citizens' Dance," which you can join on the day, a marching festival, and other parades, as well as a beer garden, a festival, and stage shows. On the second night, Hokkaido's largest fireworks display will be launched by top pyrotechnicians. Other events commemorating the 70th anniversary, such as a market and a boat race and fishing tournament, will also be held at the same time.

The highlight of the festival is the approximately 5,000 fireworks that will be launched on the first night. There will be brass band performances, dance performances, and live music on the stage, as well as food trucks, gourmet booths, a children's festival, and a flea market. There will also be plenty of other programs for children to enjoy, such as the "Night Bubble Show," where soap bubbles fly, an exciting rice cake throwing competition, and a Yu-Gi-Oh event.

Mikasa's famous Bon Odori dance is held over three days, with the Children's Bon Odori, Mikasa Hokkai Bon Odori, and Costume Bon Odori. There are also plenty of other events to enjoy in the summer at Mikasa, such as the exciting Coal Katsugiri Race, stage shows, and fireworks that light up the night sky as seen from behind a stage.

This year marks the final year of the famous "New Soba Festival" in Horokanai Town, which boasts the largest soba cultivation area and production volume in Japan. Famous soba restaurants from not only the town but also from all over the country will gather at the venue, allowing visitors to compare and taste their specialties. There will also be a stone-grinding experience, an exhibition of heavy machinery used in buckwheat fields, and a panel exhibition, making this a two-day event that soba lovers will not want to miss.

This is an event where local children can have fun, with work experiences, working vehicles, a children's festival, and a variety of workshops. Admission is free and everyone can easily participate, so why not take this opportunity to make your child's dreams come true?

This event is being held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Kushiro Children's Learning Center, a complex that combines the functions of a science museum and a children's center. There will be plenty of content for parents and children to enjoy, including workshops, science experiments, talk shows, and special exhibits. It's recommended for summer vacation independent research projects or outings with children.

*All information is current as of the time of publication in July 2025. *All published information may be subject to change, so please check the official website for details.