Kochi Yosakoi Festival: dates, venue and how to get there
Kochi · よさこい祭り
What to expect
Dance teams use naruko wooden clappers with their own music and costumes. Watching several teams at one venue lets you compare the choreography without following them across town.
Photo: 工房 やまもも · CC BY 2.0
Original date label: 2005 · Resized for display; the source file and reuse licence are linked below.
Festival dates and programme
Usual season · dates not confirmed
Usually 9–12 August; main competitions centred on 10–11 August
This is a usual season or past programme; it does not confirm the next edition. Programme times are in JST. Japan is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of IST. Check the organiser’s latest notices for individual performances, weather changes and tickets.
Where the festival takes place
Kochi · 高知
Central Kochi competition venues and Central Park
高知市内競演場・中央公園
The location below marks one representative venue or route section. It is not the whole procession or every entrance; use the organiser’s venue map for your programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Take the JR Nanpu limited express from Okayama to Kochi. Walk or use Tosaden trams to city venues, then check each team’s next scheduled performance.
Find a public transport route from your starting point ↗History and local traditions
The festival began in Kochi in 1954 to encourage civic energy and local development. It is the starting point of the Yosakoi movement that spread to other regions.
Plan your visit
Choose one competition venue for a first visit. If you want to follow a team, check its next venue and allow time for the transfer.
Editorial suggestion based on the festival’s venues and viewing format; no personal attendance is claimed.
Kochi Yosakoi Festival: questions travellers ask
When is Kochi Yosakoi Festival?
Kochi Yosakoi Festival: Usually 9–12 August; main competitions centred on 10–11 August. This is the usual season or a reviewed past programme, not confirmation of the next edition.
How do I get to Kochi Yosakoi Festival by public transport?
Take the JR Nanpu limited express from Okayama to Kochi. Walk or use Tosaden trams to city venues, then check each team’s next scheduled performance.
Will a Yosakoi team stay at one Kochi venue all day?
Teams perform at different venues according to their schedule. Check the current programme before travelling across town to see a particular group.
Official programme and sources
- smt.yosakoi.com: Official location, transport or historical reference ↗
- www.pref.kochi.lg.jp: Official location, transport or historical reference ↗
Reviewed . Some official pages are in Japanese. Open the source for this edition’s venue, daily programme and access conditions.