Shakotan Fire Festival – HOKKAIDO LOVE!
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Held from July 4 to 6

From July 4th to 6th, the Shokotan Fire Festival is held at Bikuni Shrine to pray for continued safety at sea and a bountiful catch. Every year, the city fills with excitement as colorful tairyo-bata (fisherman’s flags) decorate the port, parades of portable shrines and floats dance about the streets, and various booths sell food and drink to festival-goers.  The highlight of the festival is the Tengu Fire Dance. During this dance, a performer dressed as a tengu, a Japanese mountain spirit, walks through a huge pillar of flame in order to symbolize the act of purification. Mikoshi portable shrines are also run through this same pillar of purifying flames and is quite the sight to behold.

Shakotan Tourism Association

*Dates may be changed. For more detailed information, please refer to the official website.