What kind of festival is the "Okinawa All-Island Eisa Festival"?

"Eisa" is Okinawa's Bon Odori dance, a traditional art form danced on the night of the old Bon festival. Male dancers dance heroically while beating drums to the light sounds of the sanshin and lyrical songs, while female dancers perform graceful dances in knee-length kasuri kimonos. There are various theories about the origin of the dance, including one that says it was brought to Okinawa by a Jodo sect monk, Taichu Shonin, over 400 years ago. Since ancient times, the custom of dancing Eisa and parading through villages has been passed down from generation to generation throughout Okinawa Prefecture as an important ritual to send ancestors off to the afterlife on the last day of the old Bon festival.

The Okinawa All Island Eisa Festival started in 1956 (Showa 31) in Koza City (now Koza, Okinawa City) as the "All Island Eisa Competition". Aiming to win the competition, each youth association began to put effort into their techniques and costumes, and women's hand dancing was also added. Today, rather than a competition, it has become a popular festival where Eisa groups selected from all over Okinawa Island perform traditional or elaborate dances. It is held every year on the first weekend after the Obon festival at the Koza Sports Park Athletic Stadium in Okinawa City, and attracts more than 300,000 people over the three days.

When will the event be held in 2025 and what will be the viewing areas?

The 2025 event will be held for three days from Friday, September 12th to Sunday, September 14th.
On the first night, the "Michi Junee" event will be held, where eisa groups will parade down Gate Street (Prefectural Route 20), with 18 groups participating, including at the fixed performance venue set up along Gate Street. This is close to the original form of eisa, where the groups parade down the street while dancing, and the appeal is that you can see the performances, music, and expressions from up close. Admission is free along the road and at the fixed performance venue.

On the second day, the venue moves to Okinawa City Koza Sports Park Athletics Stadium, where the Okinawa City Youth Festival will be held, where the Youth Association of Okinawa City will perform Eisa. On the final day, groups from all over Okinawa Prefecture will gather to perform beautiful, synchronized dances. On the second and final days, admission to the grass area around the performance venue is free, but there are also paid reserved seats available in the main stand, which offers a panoramic view of the entire venue.

<Event Schedule for the 70th Okinawa All-Island Eisa Festival in 2025>

Ticket prices

*No children's fee. However, children under elementary school age may watch for free while sitting on a guardian's lap.

<Ticket sales location>
Okinawa City Tourism and Products Promotion Association (Koza Music Town 1st floor)
Okinawa City Koza Sports Park Athletics Stadium
FamilyMart ePlus (ePlus)

〈チケットに関する問合せ先〉
TEL：098-989-5566（沖縄市観光物産振興協会）

Fun facts about Eisa, a dance performed by a variety of performers

Eisa typically consists of several dozen men and women forming a line, dancing around the "jikata" or "jiute" who sing Okinawan folk songs while playing the sanshin, and the "ufudeku" (big drum).
The large drummer plays an important role in leading the performance as a whole, while performing dynamic moves while holding the drum. Other types of drums include the "shimedaiko" which is smaller than the large drum, and the "paranku" which is a hand-held drum with leather stretched on only one side, and each has a different pitch. Because the shimedaiko is light and easy to move, it is also known as the highlight of the performance, as it allows for acrobatic movements that involve large movements of the whole body. The paranku is lighter than the shimedaiko, so it is often used in children's eisa, but eisa based on the paranku has been passed down in the former towns of Yonashiro and Katsuren (both now part of Uruma City) and other areas.
The dancers are men who perform powerful dances called "Ikigamoi" and women who perform graceful dances called "Inagumoi." Other dancers include "Hatagashira" who dance with flags 3 to 4 meters high, "Sanaja" who paint their faces white and perform comical dances to excite the audience, and "Chondara."

What are the highlights and how can you enjoy the festival?

There are many ways to enjoy Eisa, but the highlight is the performers' magnificent drumming and perfectly synchronized dynamic dancing to the songs and music amidst the rhythmic and powerful overlapping sounds of the large drums, shimedaiko drums, and paranku. Just watching this overwhelming performance will lift your spirits.
Although the basic composition of the group is fixed, in recent years various formations have been formed, and each group has its own individuality, such as valuing traditions and pursuing new ways of showing off. Some groups use not only Okinawan folk songs, but also Okinawan songs and pop songs, so you can enjoy the differences between them.
The flags held up by the flag bearers and the costumes worn by the performers all have different designs depending on the group, so you'll never get bored of looking at them.

On Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th, the Orion Beer Fest will be held on the sub-grounds adjacent to the main venue, so if you like alcohol, we recommend watching the eisa with a beer in hand.

<Orion Beer Fest 2025 in Koza>

Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th, 2025 15:30-21:00
Okinawa City Koza Sports Park Sub-ground

The finale is "Kachashi" and a fireworks display

On the final day, after all the groups have finished their performances, the "Kachashi" dance begins. Kachashi means "to stir" in Okinawa, and is an improvised dance that is performed at the end of Okinawan celebrations and banquets. People of all ages enjoy themselves by raising both arms high and waving them gracefully from side to side to the up-tempo sound of the sanshin. On the grounds, which are the main festival performance venue, not only the performers of each eisa group but also the audience join in, becoming one in the mix. After the fun dance, a laser show using laser beams and fireworks, followed by fireworks, begins, bringing the three-day festival to a finale.

Please allow plenty of time to travel to the venue.

As this is the largest Eisa event in Okinawa Prefecture, not only are traffic congestion expected during the festival, but traffic restrictions will also be implemented around the venue. Paid Parking (advance sales only) will be available at the venue, but the number of spaces is limited, so if you are traveling by car, such as a rental car, you should use temporary Parking or free shuttle buses set up in Okinawa City. If you are using public transportation, use a local bus and make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the venue.

<Traffic restrictions during the festival>
For details, please check the official website

Friday, September 12th, 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Near Goya intersection on National Route 330, Koza Gate Street, Nakanomachi Naka Street

September 13th (Sat) and 14th (Sun) 8:30pm - 10pm (scheduled)
Ground Street connecting National Route 330 and Okinawa City Koza Athletic Park Athletics Stadium

On September 13th and 14th, temporary Parking will be set up at three locations: Okinawa City Hall, Okinawa City Farmers Training Center, and Awase Fishing Port. These will be available from 1:30 PM to 11 PM.
There is also a free shuttle bus
①In front of Okinawa City Hall
②In front of Okinawa City Library
3. Okinawa City Farmers Training Center
④Awase Fishing Port
⑤AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom
Trains depart from these five locations approximately every 20 minutes.

The operating hours from each departure and arrival point to the venue are 13:30-20:00,
Travel from the venue to each departure and arrival point runs from 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

<Local bus>
Nearest bus stop: Sonda. About 10 minutes on foot.