The Hakodate Port Festival is held each August to celebrate the city's rich maritime heritage and the opening of its port to foreign trade in 1859. The festival is best known for the Ika Odori, a comical yet beloved squid-dance parade in which thousands of locals and tourists alike shuffle through the streets mimicking the movements of a squid. Colourful portable shrines, traditional taiko drumming, and waterfront food stalls complete the festive atmosphere. The event runs for several days and draws visitors from across Japan and abroad.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- Early August
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Prefecture
- Hokkaido
- City
- Hakodate
Highlights
- ◆Famous Ika Odori (squid dance) mass participation parade
- ◆Portable mikoshi shrines carried through the port district
- ◆Taiko drumming and traditional performing arts
- ◆Seafood stalls highlighting Hakodate's squid and marine catch
- ◆Waterfront lantern ceremonies at night