Awa Odori Festival (阿波踊り), Tokushima

One of the most famous dance festivals to be held in Japan is the Awa Odori Festival, which attracts more than one million tourists every year and can be combined with a visit to Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival.

It features groups of choreographed dancers (known as ren) and musicians wearing traditional costumes parading through the streets, accompanied by taiko drums, flutes and shamisen lutes. While there are events during the day, it’s the nighttime parades that are the real highlight.