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- Guide to Summer Festivals on Sado Island (2025)
Guide to Summer Festivals on Sado Island (2025)
Summer in Japan means vibrant festivals, and Sado Island is no exception! From fireworks and traditional drum performances to local food and lively parades, there’s something for everyone. Check out this year’s lineup of summer events—plan your trip and experience the magic of Sado’s summer celebrations!
Tips for Festival Visitors:
✅ Some outdoor events may cancel in heavy rain.
✅ Bring cash – Most vendors, workshops, and ticketed activities don’t accept cards.
✅ Arrive early – Popular events (fireworks, taiko shows) may get crowded fast!
✅ Wear comfortable shoes – You’ll be walking on streets, gravel, or grassy festival grounds.
✅ Respect Sado’s traditions – Performances like Onidaiko, puppet shows, and folk songs are deeply cultural. Stay quiet during acts, avoid blocking views, and refrain from touching props/costumes.
✅ Ask before photographing – Some performers or rituals may restrict photos/videos.
✅ Dispose of trash properly – Festivals may have designated bins or "bring your trash home" policies.
August 2, 2025: Akadomari Port Festival
Location: Akadomari Port
Akadomari's summer festival. The main event of the day is the "Grand Sumo Tournament on the Sea of Japan" held in a ring floating on the sea. The audience cheers for the wrestlers as they struggle to slide and fall on the swaying ring. There are performances by local performing arts groups, sales of local products, and a beer garden. At the end of the festival, fireworks light up the night sky.
Event Highlights:
• 10:00 Opening Program
• 10:45 Safety Prayer Ceremony
• 12:00 - 19:00 Specialty Products Market
• 12:00 - 15:00 Water Sumo Tournament
• 16:00 Traditional Performing Arts Programs
• 16:00 - 21:00 Beer Garden
• 19:30 - 20:10: Live Show
• 20:30 - 21:15: Fireworks Show
August 7 - 8, 2025: Ryotsu Port: Tanabata Matsuri Kawabiriki & Fireworks Show
Location: Ryotsu Port - Minato and Ebisu Areas
Website: https://ryotsukawabiraki.com/
Celebrate summer magic under the stars at Ryotsu's Tanabata Matsuri Kawabiriki! This two-day festival transforms Ryotsu Port into a vibrant tapestry of tradition, with folk song parades, Onidaiko drum performances, and a nostalgic photo exhibit showcasing Ryotsu’s history. As night falls, the harbor comes alive with a breath-taking fireworks show on August 8.
Event Highlights:
Thursday, August 7th
• 9:00–10:00 – Drum & fife performance
• 10:00–21:00 – "Ryotsu Back in the Day” Photo Exhibition
• 17:30–19:30 – Children’s float parade (cancelled if raining)
• 19:00–19:40 – Folk song parade (Minato Area)
• 20:00–20:50 – Folk song parade (Ebisu Area)
Friday, August 8th
• 10:00–21:00 – "Ryotsu Back in the Day” Photo Exhibition
• 14:00–16:30 – Sado puppet show (Bunya Ningyo & Harugoma)
• 18:30–19:15 – Onidaiko (Minato Area)
• 19:30–20:15 – Onidaiko (Ebisu Area)
• 20:30–21:10 – Fireworks Show at Aiport (Don’t miss it!)
August 8 (Fri) – 15 (Fri) Ryotsu Port Minato Oasis Beer Festival
Location: Ai-Port Roadside Station, Ryotsu
Website: https://oasissado.localinfo.jp/posts/45601666
Don’t miss the Minato Oasis Beer Festival in Ryotsu—a week-long celebration of beer, live music, and Sado’s vibrant culture! Sip on local sake and chilled beers while enjoying Onidaiko drum performances, folk songs, and even a fireworks show to kick off the festivities on August 8th. With food stalls, sake tastings, and a laid-back harbor vibe, this is the perfect way to toast to a fun visit to Sado Island. Kampai!
Event Highlights:
• Aug 8 (Fri): Fireworks Festival (20:30–21:10)
• Aug 9 (Sat): Real Splatoon game (¥500 adults / ¥300 kids), Hamada Emi mini concert, Onidaiko & folk songs
• Aug 10 (Sun): Sailboat rides (¥1,500 adults / ¥1,000 kids), dance show, live music
• Aug 11 (Mon): Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament & Onidaiko
• Aug 12–13 (Tue-Wed): Sado local sake tasting & stage performances (ticketed)
• Aug 14 (Thu): Shimayume Jazz Beer & Beat Fest (16:00–21:00)
• Aug 15 (Fri): Final Onidaiko & folk song performances
August 11, 2025: Sawata Shishigajo Festival & Fireworks Show
Location: Kawaharada Elementary School Grounds, Sawata
Website: https://ryotsukawabiraki.com/
Under the summer sky of Sado Island, the Shishigajo Festival in Sawata erupts with energy! Feel the pulse of Onidaiko performances, sway to hula dances, and join the joyful Bon Odori circle dance as the community comes alive. As dusk falls, enjoy a spectacular fireworks show bursting over Kawaharada, lighting up the night with vibrant colors. Bring a blanket, grab some yatai street food, and immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening.
Event Highlights:
• 16:30–20:00 – Onidaiko, hula dance, Bon Odori
• 20:00~ Fireworks Show
August 13, 2025: Takachi Performing Arts Festival
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Location: Takachi Junior High School Grounds
Step into an evening of cultural soul at the Takachi Performing Arts Festival—one of Sado Island's most authentic summer experiences! As the sun sets over the Takachi Junior High School grounds, prepare for thunderous Onidaiko drum performances, lively Mamemaki (bean-throwing) rituals for good luck, and a showcase of Sado's rich folk arts. This is local festival magic at its best—no fancy stages, just pure community spirit. Grab a cold drink from the stalls, join the dancing, and feel the rhythm of the island.
Event Highlights:
• 17:00–20:30 – Onidaiko, Mamemaki (bean-throwing), and more!
August 22 - 24, 2025 Earth Celebration 2025 (Kodo Taiko Festival)
Location: Ogi Port
English Info: https://www.earthcelebration.jp/en
Every August, the shores of Ogi Port come alive with the pulse of taiko and the spirit of cultural exchange at Earth Celebration, Sado Island’s most iconic international festival. Founded by the world-renowned Kodo taiko group, this three-day event transcends borders, blending thunderous drum performances with global music, workshops, and eco-conscious artistry. One of Sado’s biggest events! Check the website for the full schedule.
August 23-24, 2025: Hatano: Anju Tenjin Festival
Location: Hatano Service Center Parking Lot
Get ready for the Hatano Anju Tenjin Festival! See Onidaiko drum battles, a kids’ mikoshi parade (adorable chaos guaranteed), and the festival’s Neri Mikoshi, where teams jostle a portable shrine through the streets in a riot of shouts and laughter. During the festival, painted paper lanterns lined up on the shopping street brighten up the night sky.
Event Highlights:
• Aug 23 (Sat): Evening live band
• Aug 24 (Sun): Marching band, kids’ mikoshi, Onidaiko, Neri Mikoshi
August 30 - 31, 2025: Tenryo Sake Brewery Summer Festival
Location: Tenryohai Brewery
For the first time ever, Tenryohai Brewery—one of Sado’s most beloved sake producers—is throwing open its doors for a summer festival dedicated to the island’s finest craft: sake-making! This inaugural event invites visitors to dive deep into Sado’s rich brewing heritage with hands-on experiences, exclusive tastings, and behind-the-scenes access to the art of sake.
Event Highlights:
• Sake tasting competition
• Brewery tours
• Make your own sake label!
• Sake brewing experience
Please note: Food & activities may require tickets. Avoid eating/touching kimchi/natto before visiting the brewery.
August 30, 2025: Ogi Port Festival & Fireworks Show
Location: Ogi Town (Kizaki Shrine, Kotohira Shrine, Minato Park)
As summer reaches its peak, Ogi Port transforms into a vibrant hub of tradition and celebration with its annual Ogi Port Festival! This one-day extravaganza brings together the best of Sado’s culture—lion dances, thunderous Onidaiko drum performances, and lively mikoshi (portable shrine) processions that weave through the streets. As night falls, the sky above Ogi Port erupts in a fireworks display, reflecting over the water for a magical seaside show.
Event Highlights:
• Daytime: Lion dances, Onidaiko, mikoshi parades
• 20:00–21:00 – Fireworks Show