Published October 20, 2026 at 8:10 PM JST

Every mid-August, thousands of dancers twirl bell-tipped umbrellas through the streets of Tottori City in a summer festival built on a rare local folk dance.

Quick answer: The Tottori Shan Shan Festival is the biggest summer festival in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, and it is usually held in mid-August around Obon. Its centerpiece is the mass umbrella dance, in which thousands of dancers spin colorful umbrellas hung with small bells, adapted from the old Inaba umbrella dance of eastern Tottori. Organizers set the exact days each year, so check the festival's official site before traveling.

A Summer Night Filled With Ringing Umbrellas

Few festivals can be recognized by sound alone, and the Tottori Shan Shan Festival is one of them. The name copies the cheerful jingle made when a dancer shakes and spins a paper umbrella decorated with bells. When thousands of umbrellas turn at once along the main streets of Tottori City, the whole downtown seems to ring.

The festival takes place in the center of Tottori City, in the San'in region on the Sea of Japan side of western Honshu. Travel sources describe the venue as just outside Tottori Station, which makes it a very approachable event for anyone arriving by rail. Local newspapers report that in a recent year about 3,400 participants took part in the main dance, and organizers have said in the past that more than 4,000 dancers join in good years.

Umbrellas are the star, but the other details matter too. Dancers move in organized groups, wearing matching costumes. Spectators line the sidewalks, clap along and wave fans. It is a festival where being an audience member and being a participant sit very close together, and the organizers have designed the dance specifically so that ordinary people can join.

That friendly, open spirit is why the Shan Shan Festival is often introduced as the summer festival of the whole city rather than one neighborhood. It combines a traditional folk art, a modern civic celebration and, in many years, a fireworks night.

From Inaba Folk Dance to a City Festival

The roots of the festival lie in a regional folk dance called Inaba no Kasa Odori, the Inaba umbrella dance. Inaba is the old name for the eastern part of Tottori Prefecture, and the prefecture describes the dance as a rare traditional performing art found in that area. English-language sources recount a local legend from the Kokufu area in which an old man named Gorosaku danced with an umbrella to pray for rain during a drought. According to the story, he kept dancing until the drought ended. Like many folk legends, it is told as a story rather than as a documented event, but it captures the idea of the dance as a prayer.

According to the city's own history of the festival, a civic event called the Tottori Festival began in 1961 to promote local business. It centered on a parade through the city, which was fun to watch but not easy for ordinary residents to join. Organizers wanted a participatory event, so they simplified the Inaba umbrella dance into a version that anyone could learn.

A public call for names produced the title Shan Shan Festival, and the festival under that name began in 1965. The city says it started with roughly a thousand dancers in its first year. In 2006, for the 42nd festival, the number of dancers exceeded 4,000 for the first time. In 2014, for the 50th anniversary festival, a mass dance recorded as the world's largest umbrella dance was achieved, with 1,688 people dancing at once, according to the city. A local newspaper notes that the achievement was certified by an international record organization in 2014.

The festival has had a few interruptions. It was canceled in 2020 for the first time, and in the following two years it was held at an athletics stadium instead of downtown before the downtown mass dance returned. The 60th festival was held in 2024, and the 62nd was announced for 2026.

The Umbrella Dance Itself

The dance is simple to describe and delightful to watch. Each dancer holds a paper umbrella decorated in bright colors, often red and blue, with small bells attached. The dancer spins the umbrella, swings it from side to side and shakes it so that the bells ring, while moving forward in step with the group. Because the movements are repeated and the group moves together, the effect from a distance is a wave of color along the street.

The basic dance has been adapted to make it welcoming. The city's description explains that the Inaba umbrella dance was arranged so that it could be danced easily by anyone. Dancers do not need previous training. In past years the city has also offered an experience corner with instructors for first-time dancers and visitors, so it is worth checking whether something similar is offered in the current year.

Some of the dance items include tools other than umbrellas. One English-language source says that traditional versions of the dance use ornamented paper umbrellas and Japanese swords, and it describes them as expressions of a beautiful yet gallant local culture. In the festival, the umbrella is the star, and a small hand tool with a bell, called a suzukko, appears in a companion dance.

Songs and Dances Across the Festival

The festival does not use one single tune. According to the city and the festival's own materials, there are several basic and creative dances. The oldest is a folk song called Kinanse-bushi, which was the only dance in the first festival. The Tottori Shanshan Kasa Odori was added in 1970, in the sixth festival,.

Newer creative dances followed. Heisei Tottori Ondo was added in 1990, and a lively piece with the playful title Shanshan Shangri-la was added in 1996. In 2006 the suzukko dance was introduced. The festival's official program for 2026 lists the basic dances as Kinanse-bushi and the Tottori Shanshan Kasa Odori, with Heisei Tottori Ondo and Shanshan Shangri-la as creative dances.

That variety means the mass dance has more than one mood. Some pieces feel stately and some feel playful, so groups often choose the one that suits their costume and style. For spectators, the fun is in noticing how each group treats the same umbrella, with different timing and different flourishes.

What Happens During the Festival Days

In recent years the festival has been organized as a three-day sequence around the Obon season in mid-August. In 2024, for example, the pre-festival evening was on August 13, the mass umbrella dance was on August 14, and a citizens' fireworks event followed on August 15. In 2026, the organizers listed a pre-festival evening on August 13 and the mass umbrella dance on August 14. Dates and times can change, and the schedule can be affected by weather, so check the official site each year.

The pre-festival evening takes place on a plaza at the north exit of Tottori Station. It is a stage event where groups perform the suzukko dance, which uses bell-tipped hand tools, as well as umbrella dances. It is a gentler introduction to the festival and a good time to see the costumes up close.

The main event is the mass umbrella dance. According to the city, dozens of groups take part, with 97 groups listed for 2024 and a total of 114 listed in two sessions for 2026. The groups travel along a route through the downtown streets, which in recent official information includes Wakasa Kaido, Katahara-dori, Chizu Kaido, Taiheisen-dori and Ekimae-dori. Because the route runs near the station, the dancers pass through the area where visitors are most likely to be staying.

The city lists the fireworks event as the finale in many years. In 2024, it was announced as a display of about 5,000 shells held at a citizens' sports ground, with light rain allowed but bad weather leading to cancellation without a postponement. Whether the fireworks follow the same pattern in a given year should be confirmed in that year's official notices.

Enjoying It as a Visitor

Getting there is easy. Travel sources describe the festival area as right outside Tottori Station, and the city lists the main dance route along streets leading from the station. Because the viewing is along the sidewalks, there is generally no need to enter a ticketed area. According to recent city information, watching the main events is free.

Plan for the evening. The mass dance runs after dusk in the summer heat, so a hat for the late afternoon, a fan and a small water bottle can make a big difference. Traffic controls may apply along the route, so check the current notices. Arriving a little early to secure a spot on the sidewalk is a good idea.

If you want to try the dance, check the festival's official notices for any instruction corners, and consider watching the groups first to get a sense of the rhythm. The basic movement is a turn of the wrist so the umbrella spins, together with steps in time. Respect the performers' space, keep walkways clear and follow staff instructions.

Weather is part of the planning. The city's materials note that the pre-festival evening and the mass umbrella dance can be canceled if the weather is poor. Keeping an eye on the official site for weather notices before heading out is wise.

Around Tottori: Dunes and Local Flavor

Since the festival is held right in the city center, it pairs well with other Tottori sights. The Tottori Sand Dunes lie on the Sea of Japan coast of Tottori City and are one of the largest dune systems in Japan, extending about 16 kilometers east to west, according to a national tourism directory. The directory lists a bus ride of about 20 minutes from Tottori Station and describes activities including photography with camels, paragliding, sandboarding and local foods such as eggs cooked in the hot sand.

Check the city's tourism pages for current restaurants, museums and seasonal events. A relaxed schedule works best, because the festival is a nighttime event and the dunes are best enjoyed by day.

The Shan Shan Festival is a good example of how a regional folk dance can become a shared civic celebration. It keeps the sound and spirit of the Inaba umbrella dance, and it invites newcomers to move along with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Tottori Shan Shan Festival held?

It is usually held in mid-August, around Obon. In recent years the schedule has included a pre-festival evening on August 13, the mass umbrella dance on August 14 and, in some years, a fireworks night on August 15. The festival's organizers set the exact days each year, so check the official site.

Is it free to watch?

According to recent city and tourism information, watching the pre-festival stage performances and the mass umbrella dance along the route is free. Some years have offered reserved seating or special arrangements, so confirm details in the current announcement.

Can visitors join the dance?

The dance was designed so that beginners can take part, and the city has described instruction corners for first-timers in past years. Whether you can join in depends on the current year's program and the groups that are performing, so check the official information.

Further reading: the Tottori Shanshan Festival official website, the Tottori Prefecture page on the Inaba umbrella dance and the festival and the Japan National Tourism Organization festival page.

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