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January
Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossoms Festival)
Late January
The earliest Cherry Blossoms Festival in Japan. Featuring performing arts, fireworks,
and more fun events.
Nago: 0980-53-7755
Motobu: 0980-47-2700
Okinawa Flower Carnival
Late January ~ May
Decorating the event sites with tropical flowers, variety of events will take
place during the carnival.
098-859-6128
February
Pro Baseball Camp
Early February
Several pro baseball teams are going to have their training camps in Okinawa main island
and Miyako island every year.
098-859-6130
Okinawa Marathon
Mid February
This is the official marathon of Okinawa City. U.S. Air Base is included in the course.
098-930-0088
Okinawa International Western Orchid Exhibition
Early February
The exhibition starts with the Okinawa Flower Carnival at The Tropical Dream Center.
Presenting more than 5,000 pots of western orchid not only from Japan but also from overseas. This is the largest western
orchid contest in the nation.
0980-48-2741
March
Whale Watching Guide
Late January ~ Late March
Whales can be seen around Kerama Islands during the season.
098-987-2430 or 098-987-2311
Higashison (Higashi Village) Azalea Festival
Early March ~ End of March
Blossoms of 50,000 azalea flowers are magnificent experience.
0980-43-3300
Yaeyama Ocean Opening Festa
Late March
The earliest ocean opening festa in Japan.
0980-83-6324
April
Shi-mi- Festival
Early April
Celebrating ancestry sprits during the Shi-mi- season on lunar calendar.
098-859-5123
Yaei Low Tide Festival
Early April
Enjoy gathering shellfish on the lagoon island, which appears in the ocean of north side
Miyako island.
0980-72-3263
American Fest.
Sometimes in April
Variety of events will take place in Kadena Air Base during the festival.
098-938-1111 - Extension: 634-4387
National Triathlon (Miyako Island)
Late April
The athletes compete 3 km swimming, 136 km bicycle riding, and 42.195 km marathon
during this toughness race in Miyako island.
09807-3-1046
May
Naha Ha-ri- (Naha City)
Early May
Dinamic boat racing by fourty two paddlers in their ancent style outfits. They
compete the race on three dragon boats.
098-862-3276
Oku Yanbaru Koi Nobori (Rising Carp) Festival
Early May
Eight hundred Koinobori (Cloth Carp) swim in the upper stream of Oku river.
0980-41-8446
Spring All Islands Bull Fighting
Mid May
The strongest bulls from every island of Okinawa gather for the event to compete.
098-857-0185
June
Itoman Ha-re-
Early June
Brave dragon boat racing will take place in a fishing town of Itoman City.
098-840-8111
Okinawa Ocean Carnival
Late June ~ Early July
More to the demonstration of jet ski and wind surfing, there will be variety of events
such as free water sports trial class and ocean athletic meet will take place duing the carnival.
Ha-ri-
Early June ~ Late June
Dragon boat race will take place in the number of seaports all over Okinawa.
098-859-6123
Orion Beer Fest. in Ishigaki Island
Sometimes in June
What can you do with beer other than drinking it?
098-877-1133
Sanitsu Beach Carnival
Late June
The event takes place on the lagoon of 700 hectare.
0980-76-6001
July
Ocean Expo Park Summer Festival
Mid July
Variety of events will take place such as aquapolis fireworks, popular singers' show, Ha-ri-,
yacht race, windsurfing contest, and more.
0980-48-2741
Urasoe Tedako Festival
Mid July
Parade of regional & traditional perfoming arts by the citizens is the main event.
However, the festival keep going with other fun events such as introduction of Miss Tedako, Youth Eisa, and fireworks.
098-876-1234
Nago Summer Festival
Late July
Events are such as beer drinking contest, Eisa, fireworks, and more.
0980-52-4243
Orion Beer Festa in Miyako Island
Late July
The purpose of the event is to enjoy Orion beer as you satisfy. Moreover, there will
be local bands' live and fireworks during the festival.
098-877-1133
Yonabaru Festival
Late July
The festival takes place on 26th of June in lunar calendar. The main event in the festival
is the great tag of war.
098-945-2265
August
Angama
Early August
The event takes place in Ishigaki City on the day of lunar Bon Festival.
0980-82-2809
Okinawa Eisa Festival (Okinawa City)
Mid August
Eisa teams from all over the islands of Okinawa gathers to have Eisa battles during the festival.
098-939-1212
Shioya's Ungami (Sea gods) Festival
Mid August
Hosting gods from Niraikanai, people celebrate and pray for the blessings
of the village.
098-965-0314
September
Taramason (Tarama Village) August Dance
Early September
This event has been preserved by Japanese government as the non-material cultural
heritage.
098-859-6123
Itoman Great Tag of War
Early September
This is Itoman City's traditional event which is celebrated for the purpose of the blessings
upon harvest and health.
098-840-3100
Ritou Fair (Islands Exhibition)
Mid September
The exhibition of Arts and Crafts from every islands of Okinawa.
098-866-2370
October
Naha Festival (Naha City)
Early October
The great tag of war, which is the biggest event in the festival, is the competition of pulling
the rope (2 meters in diameter) in the middest of the sound of drums, crackers, and whistles. Other than the great tag
of war, there will be variety of events will take place such as performing arts show, ethnic arts parade, Sumo restling, plants
market, and much more.
098-862-3276
All Islands Shishikomai (Ritual dance with a lion's mask) Festival
Late October
The performing shows of the traditional dance with a lion's mask inherited to each island.
098-859-6123
Orange Gathering
October through February
The gathering of various kinds of orange will take place from Octorber to February.
0980-47-2889
Okinawa Industrial Festival
Late October
There will be an exhibition market of prefectural products. Moreover, there will be
events such as ethinic arts gallery, art workshop, and so forth.
098-859-6123
November
Shuri Castle Festival & Culture Festival
Early November
The procession, which replicated the picture scroll of Ryukyu Kingdom, takes place on
Kokusai Dori. Ryukyu Dance will be perfomed in Shuri Castle during the festival.
098-886-6151
Tour de Okinawa
Early November
Cycling race that runs through magnificent mountains and fields.
There will be courses such as 200 kilometer race, which is the longest road race course in Japan, and the shorter courses
that everybody can participate.
0980-54-3174
Okinawa International Carnival
Early November
All the energies of Okinawa City will be focused on this carnival. There will be various
fun events such as bull fighting, fireworks, the 10,000 people parade of ethnic arts, and lot more.
098-938-8022
Suntopia Okinawa
Mid November
This is a cultural and sports for middle aged people. The events including golf, walking
competition, all kinds of sports, craft workshop, and more.
098-859-6128
December
Naha Marathon
Early December
The motto of this unique civic marathon is "You, the runner, are the leading part."
Because the marathon takes place in the most southern part of Japan, it is know as "the Festival of Sun, Ocean, and Jogger."
098-862-9902
Dai Ryukyu Matsuri Oukoku (The Great Ryukyu Kingdom Festival)
Mid December
Various events will take place in a magnificent scale during the festival. Events are
such as Ryukyu Three Kingdoms, Ethnic Performing Arts, the World of Shimauta (Songs of Island), and others to present the
romance of Ryukyu.
098-859-6128
Yomitan Pottery Market
Early December
Known as Yachimun's Sato (the hometown of pottery), Yomitanson (Yomitan Village) will hold
three-day long pottery market.
098-958-4468
Mabuni the Festival of Fire & Gongs
New Year's Eve throught New Year's Day
This is an all night prayer for soothing the spirits of those who died in the World
War II and for the world peace. The holy fire will be kept burning and the holy gongs will be kept gonging throughout
the New Year's Eve to New Year's Day.
098^997-3011
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