Ohara Festival in Kagoshima — the 2026 Festival Has Ended; Next Year at a Glance
Southern Kyushu's biggest festival fills the Tenmonkan tram street with dancers every early November. The 75th festival was held on November 2–3, 2026 and is over — here is what it was like, and what to plan around next year.
Official Ohara Festival info (Japanese) →At a glance
The short version.
When
2026 (75th, ended): Mon, Nov 2, Night Festival 6:50–8:20pm; Tue, Nov 3 (national holiday), Main Festival 10:20am–3:25pm. 2027: not announced yet.
Where
The tram street (Densha-dori) between Takamibaba, Izuro and Sanbashi-dori — about 1,480 m in the Tenmonkan area.
Scale
Over 20,000 dancers take part, making it the largest festival in southern Kyushu (Kagoshima City).
What you'll hear
The folk song Ohara-bushi, plus Kagoshima Hanya-bushi and Shibuya Ondo.
What's on
- Night Festival (Nov 2): mass dance (so-odori) and the Ogojo taiko-drum showcase.
- Main Festival (Nov 3): the mass dance and Ogojo drums again, plus marching bands and the dance "Ohara 21", in several parts through the day.
- Times are for the 75th festival (2026) as listed on the official tourism site. Next year's programme will be on the official page once announced.
Road closures, trams and buses
- Closure hours for 2026 were not published when we checked in October, and next year's are not out yet. Last year (2025, 74th festival) the street was closed to traffic 6:00–9:00pm on Nov 2 and 9:30am–4:00pm on Nov 3 — expect something similar, but confirm.
- In past years the city tram has not run between Takamibaba and Kagoshima-Ekimae while the street is closed, and several bus routes were rerouted — so don't count on the tram around Tenmonkan during those hours.
- There is no parking at the festival site (official leaflet, 2025) — use public transport. Airport and long-distance buses also changed their routes last year, so check your operator.
Local tip: the festival street is also the tram route, so treat it as a walking day around Tenmonkan. Our tram guide explains fares and how to ride when the trams are running.
Kagoshima tram guide →Common questions
When is the Ohara Festival?
In recent years it has been held on November 2 and 3. The 75th festival (2026) was on Monday November 2 (Night Festival) and Tuesday November 3 (Main Festival) and has ended. The 2027 dates had not been announced as of November 6, 2026 — check the official page.
Where does it take place?
On the tram street through the Tenmonkan area, from Takamibaba through Izuro to Sanbashi-dori — roughly 1,480 m.
Will the trams run during the festival?
2027 has not been announced yet. In previous years the tram between Takamibaba and Kagoshima-Ekimae was suspended while the street was closed. Check the Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau before you travel.
Who can I ask for details?
Kagoshima City's general information call center, Sun-Sun Call Kagoshima: 099-808-3333 (Japanese).
Found this useful?
This guide is free. If it helped you plan, a small tip keeps it updated.
Leave a tip