Published October 20, 2026 at 8:15 PM JST

Born from a city's recovery spirit in 1935, Hakodate's summer festival fills the harbor town with fireworks, parades and a playful squid dance every August.

Quick answer: The Hakodate Port Festival, known in Japanese as Hakodate Minato Matsuri, is the largest summer festival in Hakodate, Hokkaido. It is usually held from August 1 to 5, opening with a harbor fireworks display and followed by two evenings of the Wasshoi Hakodate dance parade, which features the cheerful Ika Odori, or squid dance. Organizers set the exact event days and backup dates each year.

A Harbor Town Celebrates Every August

In southern Hokkaido, Hakodate is a port city with a long seafaring history, and its biggest summer party is named after that harbor. The Hakodate Port Festival turns the streets near Hakodate Station and the waterfront into a stage for fireworks, drums, portable shrines and dancing, usually over the first five days of August. According to the organizers, the 2026 festival was held in honor of the 167th anniversary of the opening of Hakodate Port.

The festival has a bright, friendly mood. Residents of all ages dance in the streets, and visitors are welcome to watch or join in. It is free to attend, according to travel sources, and the key events are spread over several days, so you can enjoy a single evening or plan a longer stay. The program has three main pillars: an opening fireworks display over the harbor, the Wasshoi Hakodate parades, and the Ika Odori squid dance that visitors can try themselves.

Hakodate is famous across Japan for its squid, and the squid dance is a playful way for the city to celebrate that identity. The festival also reflects something deeper, which is community spirit. Its story begins with a city coming together after a hard year, and that sense of togetherness is still part of the atmosphere today.

How the Festival Began

The festival's origins go back to the years after the great Hakodate fire of 1934. According to a Japanese encyclopedia entry on the festival, a local shipping leader proposed holding a commemoration to mark the first anniversary of the city's recovery, and the first festival took place in 1935. It was linked to the anniversary of the port's opening and was meant to lift the city's spirits. The same entry says it drew about 300,000 participants over three days, though counts from that era are best treated as approximate.

Some residents wondered whether a festival should be held before recovery was complete, but the event went ahead, and it has become a symbol of the city's resilience. After 1935, the festival was held every year from 1936, with a pause during the war years, and it resumed in 1946. More recently, it was canceled in 2021, held on a reduced scale in 2022 and returned to its full form in 2023.

The timing has also shifted over time. The Japanese encyclopedia notes that the festival was moved to August, partly because July often brings rain and August 1 is the city's anniversary day. Today the five-day period from August 1 to 5 is a familiar part of the Hakodate summer.

The Opening Fireworks

The festival opens on August 1 with the Doshin Fireworks Festival, a fireworks display named for the local newspaper that sponsors it. In 2026 it was the 71st edition. Fireworks are launched from Midori no Shima, an artificial island in the harbor, and the display runs for roughly an hour in the evening, from about 19:45 to 20:50 according to the festival's official schedule.

Organizers describe the program as including large shells, wide starmine bursts, special set-piece fireworks and underwater fireworks, with some of the display timed to music. Because the launch site is on the water, the best viewing is usually along the harbor quays, and visitors often arrive early to find a place. Mount Hakodate also offers views over the city, according to a travel blog.

Backup dates are built into the plan. In 2026, August 5 was listed as the backup day for the fireworks, and August 4 as the backup for the parade, so weather does not have to end the festival. Always check the official site for the latest notices.

Wasshoi Hakodate: The Great Dance Parade

The most distinctive part of the festival is Wasshoi Hakodate, a dance parade held on two evenings, usually August 2 and 3. It takes place on two courses: the Jujigai and Matsukaze course near the station and the Chiyodai and Goryokaku course. The city closes the main streets so that groups can dance through them in the evening.

The parade has a long history of its own. According to the Japanese encyclopedia, it began in 1960 as a parade with a target of ten thousand dancers, moved to evening hours in 1972 and expanded to two days in 1989. Two courses were established in 1990, and the current name Wasshoi Hakodate was adopted in 1999. The name echoes the cheerful call used when carrying a portable shrine.

Each course is divided into three sessions, according to the organizers. The first session features the Hakodate Port Dance, called Minato Odori. The second brings floats and portable shrines, children's squid dancing and a summer carnival atmosphere. The third is the Hakodate Ika Odori, which includes a section where anyone can join in.

Seeing groups of all kinds, including drummers and children, march by gives the parade a warm, community feel. Food stalls line the route, and about ninety stalls were reported along the festival area by one travel guide.

The Squid Dance and the Port Dance

The Hakodate Port Dance is the older of the two dances. It is performed to local folk-style tunes and has been danced in the festival since its early years. A travel guide says it has been handed down since the first festival, and in the parade it is the dance of the first session.

The Ika Odori, or squid dance, is newer and much more playful. Japanese sources give 1981 as the year it was created, and a travel guide explains that local volunteers developed it before it joined the official program. The choreography is simple: dancers spread their arms and sway, moving like the arms of a squid, to a repeating rhythm. Hakodate is known for squid, so the dance is a wink at local pride as well as a fun activity.

Because it is easy to learn, the squid dance is open to the public. During the third session on each parade course, there is a free participation section where visitors can join the crowd and try it. A separate slot has been described for children, and travel guides suggest learning the basic steps before the festival to enjoy it more. A travel guide adds that the official website suggests learning both dances in advance.

Planning Your Visit

Getting around is easy because the central festival area is close to Hakodate Station. Travel sources describe a walk of roughly five to seven minutes from the station to the main streets, and the city tram runs near the Goryokaku route. Organizers note that the festival venue has traffic restrictions, and one listing says there is no parking at the venue, so public transport is the practical choice.

The parade times in the official schedule run through the evening, and the 2026 schedule lists the Jujigai and Matsukaze course on August 2 and the Chiyodai and Goryokaku course on August 3. Dates, times and routes can change, so check the official site before you travel. Details such as the parade course, tram operations and bus changes during the festival are usually published there.

Evenings by the bay can feel cool even in August, so a light jacket is useful. Carry a bit of cash for food stalls, wear comfortable shoes and expect crowds after the fireworks, especially near the station. A travel guide suggests that waiting a while before heading to the station can make the trip easier.

Safety and respect go together. Keep the parade route clear, follow staff directions and take care when children are present. If you join the squid dance, watch the groups around you and follow the rhythm.

Food, Sights and Nearby Highlights

The festival and the city's flavors go well together. Hakodate is closely associated with squid and fresh seafood, and travel writers describe squid as a central theme of the festival. Festival stalls also offer typical summer treats, including shaved ice and other snacks, though the exact lineup changes each year.

When the dancing is done, Hakodate offers plenty to see. Mount Hakodate rises about 334 meters above the city and is reached by car, bus, ropeway or a roughly 45-minute hike, according to a travel guide, and it is known for city views. Goryokaku, a western-style star-shaped fort, is now a park with over a thousand cherry trees. Another guide lists its cherry trees at about 1,600 and notes that the park is the site of the Battle of Hakodate. The Motomachi district has historic churches, including a Catholic church first built in 1877, according to a travel guide.

These sights are easy to combine with a festival trip. Visitors might spend a day in the Motomachi area and the fort, then return to the city center for the evening parade. Hakodate rewards a relaxed pace, and the festival turns the whole town into a gathering place.

Overall, the Hakodate Port Festival is a good example of how a local event can carry a city's story. It began as a hopeful celebration after a difficult chapter, and today it combines fireworks, a big community dance and a funny, friendly squid dance that almost anyone can learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Hakodate Port Festival held?

It is usually held from August 1 to 5. In recent schedules, the fireworks have opened the festival on August 1, the Wasshoi Hakodate parades have been held on August 2 and 3, and the last two days have served as backup dates. Organizers set the details each year.

Is the Hakodate Port Festival free?

Travel guides describe watching the events and joining the dance sections as free. Some viewing arrangements or stalls may involve costs, so check the official information for the year you plan to attend.

Can visitors join the squid dance?

Yes, the Ika Odori has a free participation section in the parade, and the dance is simple to learn. Travel guides and the official site suggest practicing the basic movements beforehand and following the groups around you.

Further reading: the official Hakodate Port Festival website, the Japanese encyclopedia entry on the Hakodate Port Festival and a Hokkaido travel guide to the Hakodate Port Festival and the squid dance.

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