Harajuku Super Yosakoi 2026: Aug 29-30 Guide
Tokyo Mate
Harajuku Omotesando Super Yosakoi 2026 takes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August. There are 106 teams from across Japan and abroad, and the parade down Omotesando itself runs on the 30th only.
The performances are split across six venues with different times at each, so it helps to decide which stage you want to see before you set out.
What yosakoi means and what makes it distinct
Yosakoi (よさこい) comes from the Tosa dialect of Kochi Prefecture and means "come at night" (夜さり来い). The Kochi Chamber of Commerce started it in 1954 to revive a local economy that had stalled after the war, and 21 teams with 750 people took part in the first year.
The thing you notice first at yosakoi is the naruko (鳴子) the dancers hold. It was originally a tool for scaring birds off the fields, but it was a familiar object in Kochi, and it became the instrument yosakoi is known by.
Teams at Super Yosakoi have to work part of the "Yosakoi Naruko Odori" melody into their music and dance holding naruko. Everything else, the costumes, the choreography and the rest of the music, is up to them, so the feel changes a lot from team to team, from traditional dance through to fast rhythms like rock and samba.
Super Yosakoi 2026 basics
The festival began in 2001 and 2026 marks its 24th edition. Kochi Prefecture and Kochi City, where yosakoi started, are among its sponsors.
| Event name | Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi 2026 (原宿表参道元氣祭スーパーよさこい2026) |
| Dates | Sat 29 and Sun 30 August 2026 ※ The Omotesando parade is on the 30th only |
| Performance times | Different at each venue |
| Jimanichi hours (food stalls) | 29th 10:00-19:30 30th 10:00-17:00 |
| Teams | 106 |
| Admission | Free |
| Main venues | Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Omotesando, Yoyogi Park, the zelkova street in front of NHK |
| If it rains | Goes ahead in the rain |
✅ Getting to the venues
| Venue | Nearest station |
|---|---|
| Harajuku-guchi Stage | JR Harajuku Station, west exit of the Omotesando gate 1 minute from exit 2 of Meiji-jingumae Station |
| Jingu Kaikan Stage | JR Harajuku Station, west exit of the Omotesando gate About 10 minutes from exit 2 of Meiji-jingumae Station |
| Yoyogi Park Stage | 10 minutes from exits 1 and 2 of Meiji-jingumae Station 15 minutes from JR Shibuya Station |
| NHK-mae Street | 10 minutes from exits 1 and 2 of Meiji-jingumae Station 10 minutes from JR Shibuya Station |
| Yoyogi Park BE STAGE | JR Harajuku Station west exit 8 minutes from exit 1 of Meiji-jingumae Station |
| Omotesando Avenue | 1 minute from exits A1 and A2 of Omotesando Station |
If the Omotesando parade on the 30th is what you are coming for, exits A1 and A2 of Omotesando Station are the closest.
If you are planning to watch at Harajuku-guchi, Jingu Kaikan or Yoyogi Park, it is easier to come from Harajuku Station or Meiji-jingumae Station.
Performance times by venue
The times differ from venue to venue. On the 29th the Harajuku-guchi and Yoyogi Park stages run until 19:30, while on the 30th most finish between 17:00 and 17:30.
| Venue | Sat 29 Aug | Sun 30 Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Harajuku-guchi Stage | 11:30-19:30 | 10:00-17:30 |
| Jingu Kaikan Stage | 10:30-17:30 | 10:00-17:00 |
| Yoyogi Park Stage | 10:00-19:30 | 10:00-17:00 |
| NHK-mae Street | 10:00-19:00 | 10:00-17:00 |
| Yoyogi Park BE STAGE | 11:30-16:30 | 11:00-16:00 |
| Omotesando Avenue | None | 11:10-16:15 |
⚠️ The Omotesando parade is held on the 30th only
This is the parade that runs down Omotesando itself with the road closed to traffic, and it is the centrepiece of Super Yosakoi. There is no Omotesando Avenue performance on the 29th, so to see the parade you have to come on the 30th.
If you want to watch into the evening, Saturday the 29th is the better day. Harajuku-guchi and Yoyogi Park stages run until 19:30, while on the 30th most finish between 17:00 and 17:30.
The closing ceremony is held around 17:00 on the 30th at the Harajuku-guchi Stage.
Jimanichi at Yoyogi Park and the food from Kochi
In the plaza next to the Yoyogi Park stage there is Jimanichi (じまん市), where food from all over the country is gathered.
It runs 10:00-19:30 on the 29th and 10:00-17:00 on the 30th.
There is a good range of food from Kochi. They sell aonori udon made with water from the Shimanto river system, katsuo tataki seared over a straw fire, imoten that the Kochi Sunday market is known for, and shirasu-don topped with Kochi shirasu. There is also craft beer from SOUTH HORIZON BREWING, near Katsurahama in Kochi Prefecture.
The goods stalls sell naruko, naruko accessories and T-shirts. There is a separate workshop where you can make your own naruko from Kochi-grown hinoki.
There is a proper yosakoi experience too. Even if you have never danced it, you can practise on the day and then take part in Super Yosakoi, and it is free. You apply in advance, and same-day sign-ups are taken only if there is room left.
Some stalls take cash only, so bring some with you.
Super Yosakoi FAQ
Q. Which is better, the 29th or the 30th?
A. If you want to see the parade down Omotesando, Sunday the 30th. On Saturday the 29th the Harajuku-guchi and Yoyogi Park stages run until 19:30, which makes it the day for staying with the festival into the evening.
Q. Is the Harajuku Yosakoi Fair on as well?
A. Yes. The Harajuku Yosakoi Fair runs from 21 to 30 August at "Harakado", Tokyu Plaza Harajuku. It is a tie-in event introducing yosakoi and Kochi, and you can take it in alongside Super Yosakoi.
On the last weekend of August, Harajuku and Omotesando fill with the sound of naruko.
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