Hokkaido's summer is packed with exciting events! From spectacular fireworks displays that light up the night sky to traditional festivals, sunflower fields, and fun activities for kids, we've handpicked 15 must-see events to make your summer in Hokkaido unforgettable. Why not set out to find once-in-a-lifetime moments and new encounters this summer?

This is one of Hokkaido's largest fireworks displays and a signature event for the Tokachi region. The theme for 2025 is "Impulse Capture." The show features a stunning combination of fireworks, music, lighting, and visuals controlled by cutting-edge computer technology. The grand finale, a "Nishiki Kamuro" that paints the entire sky gold, is a sight you must see at least once in your lifetime. Please note that applications for paid seating and free reserved tickets for Tokachi residents have already closed.

For three days, the midsummer air of Susukino is filled with excitement. Highlights include the "Oiran Dochu," a procession of courtesans in magnificent costumes chosen through public auditions, and the powerful "Mikoshi Togyo" portable shrine parade. The main street of Susukino becomes a pedestrian paradise every evening, with food stalls selling yakitori, oden, and more, making the nights in Susukino even more lively.

This is Hakodate's signature summer festival. On the first day, a variety of fireworks synchronized with music from the band GLAY and others will light up the night sky, heralding the start of the festival in this port city. On the 2nd (Sat) and 3rd (Sun), the "Wasshoi Hakodate" parade will take place, with citizens performing the festival's famous "Hakodate Ika Odori" (Squid Dance) and "Hakodate Minato Odori" through the streets. There will also be live street performances, stage shows, and food stalls. Additionally, a decorated "Hana Densha" (Flower Tram) is scheduled to run during the festival period, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Held in the town of Esashi in southern Hokkaido, this summer festival boasts a history of about 380 years. Thirteen gorgeous floats (yama) decorated with warrior dolls, Noh dolls, Bunraku puppets, and Kabuki figures, along with portable shrines (mikoshi), parade through the streets of Esashi. The highlight is the "Yadoire" on the final night, when the procession returns to the shrine. The sight of bearers rushing up the stone steps, repeatedly passing through the torii gate and main hall, brings the crowd's excitement to a peak. Come and experience this traditional festival of Esashi, which is designated as a Hokkaido Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Considered one of Hokkaido's "Three Great Andon Festivals," this event's highlight is the "Kenka Andon" (Fighting Lanterns), unique in Hokkaido. The sight of giant lanterns—7 meters high, 12 meters long, and weighing 5 tons—crashing into each other is truly spectacular. As the largest summer festival in northern Hokkaido, it combines the beauty and power of the lanterns, captivating numerous tourists every year.

The festival kicks off with the "Doshin Summer Fireworks Display," where about 4,000 fireworks, including creative designs and starmines, brilliantly color the night sky. The festival is packed with highlights, such as the "Dance Parade" with about 2,000 citizen dancers, the powerful "Mikoshi Togyo" portable shrine parade, and the "Rekka Tanabata Festival" which marks the grand finale. Additionally, there will be stage events like YOSAKOI Soran Night and Disco Night, as well as the "Taisetsu Sanroku Festival" with about 50 food stalls.

This is the largest summer festival in the Tokachi region, held right after the Kachimai Fireworks Festival. Various events take place, including the "Obihiro Bon Odori" where dancers with unique styles perform, the "Yume Furu Yoru" where men's and women's mikoshi parade through the venue, and passionate taiko drum performances by teams from all over Hokkaido. Street performances and gourmet food stalls are also planned.

This is the signature festival of Hokuryu Town, known as the "Town of Sunflowers." The breathtaking view of 2 million sunflowers blooming across vast fields is a sight to behold. There's a giant maze made of sunflowers and the "Himawari-go" tractor that takes you on a tour through the sunflower fields, offering a special time for families and couples surrounded by sunflowers. Local gourmet food and sweets, such as sunflower soft-serve ice cream and sunflower watermelon, will also be available.

This festival's main attractions are its three grand parades: the "Tairyo Bayashi Parade" with boat-shaped floats, the "Shimin Odori Parade" where local and visiting groups dance together, and the "Ongaku Parade" where the sounds of brass bands and music groups fill the streets. At the Kushiro Port Earthquake-Resistant Passenger Ship Terminal venue, various stalls will be set up, and the area will be enlivened with stage performances like music concerts and dance shows. There are plenty of events for both adults and children to enjoy.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, this is Tomakomai's signature summer festival. It's packed with events for all ages, including the "Shimin Odori" (Citizen's Dance) which anyone can join on the day, parades like the Marching Festival, a beer garden, festival stalls, and stage shows. On the second night, one of Hokkaido's largest fireworks displays, created by top pyrotechnicians, will be launched. Additionally, special 70th-anniversary events such as a market and a boat race fishing tournament will be held concurrently.

The highlight is the approximately 5,000 fireworks launched on the first night. The stage will feature performances such as brass bands, dance, and live music, and there will be kitchen cars, gourmet booths, a children's fair, and a flea market. Other attractions include the "Night Bubble Show" where soap bubbles dance in the air, a Doto Mochi-maki (rice cake scattering) event, and a Yu-Gi-Oh! event, offering plenty of fun programs for children.

The Bon Odori, a specialty of Mikasa, is held over three days with a "Children's Bon Odori," "Mikasa Hokkai Bon Odori," and "Costume Bon Odori." In addition, there are plenty of other events to enjoy the Mikasa summer, including the thrilling "Coal Carrying Race," stage shows, and a fireworks display that colors the night sky over the festival tower.

Horokanai Town, which boasts the largest cultivation area and production volume of soba (buckwheat) in Japan, will be holding its famous "Shin-Soba Festival" for the final time this year. Famous soba shops from within the town and across the country will gather at the venue, allowing visitors to compare their specialty flavors. Furthermore, there will be stone-milling experiences, exhibitions of heavy machinery used in soba fields, and panel displays, making it a truly unmissable two days for soba lovers.

This is a fun event for local children, featuring job experiences, displays of working vehicles, a children's fair, and various workshops. Admission is free, making it easy to participate. Why not take this opportunity to let your child try out their dream job?

This event commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Kushiro Children's Museum of Science and Culture, a complex that combines the functions of a science museum and a children's center. It's packed with content for seeing, hearing, and experiencing, including parent-child workshops, science experiments, talk shows, and special exhibitions. It's highly recommended for summer vacation research projects and outings with your children.

*All information is current as of the article's publication in July 2025.
*All information is subject to change. Please check official websites for the latest details.