Shimokitazawa’s Ichibancho shopping district comes to life in mid-August as the local Awa Odori festival parades through the streets.
Awa Odori is a traditional dance festival made up of many groups of choreographed dancers. It’s a chance to see participants donning traditional Obon outfits, singing, chanting and dancing throughout the neighborhood—a summertime classic!
On each night of the festival, 12 to 13 teams will parade along the route. The festival features teams from all over Tokyo, but expect big cheers for the local Shimokitazawa teams. There is also a solid contingent of teams from Koenji—venue for the hugely popular Koenji Awaodori Festival, which usually happens on the weekend following this festival.
In addition to the parades on Saturday and Sunday, there is a pre-event on the Friday called “Awa Night” with food and drink stalls filling the streets of the Ichibancho shopping street.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.