Otaru Ushio Festival is a movable festival that is held on the final Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July every year.
It is the biggest summer festival that concludes Otaru's festival season.
The highlight of this festival is the dance procession called 'Ushio Nerikomi' on the 24th.
Thousand of people in Yukata or summer cotton kimono dance in a parade without interruption between 13:00-21:00.
There is a group 'Tobiiri DE Odoritai'open for all comers to dance in the parade. It is going to start from Hanazono Green Road around 14:30. If you are interested, please join the group and enjoy dancing with the locals.
Other than Ushio Dance, many more events take place at the festival site Pier No.3 during the three-day festival period.
Pier No.3 is at the end of Chuo-dori street that extends from JR Otaru Station, and it takes about 10 minutes to get there.
Short fireworks show is performed 20:00-20:30 after the opening ceremony of the festival today.
Hoping it won't rain for these three days!
Ushio Festival website: http://otaru.ushiomatsuri.net
