History
From Fussa to Tachikawa
How this festival grew from a small neighborhood event into a west Tokyo highlight.
Read more →Unofficial Visitor's Guide · Oct 10–12, 2026
Yokai Bon Odori 2026: Dance With the Spirits of Tachikawa
For three nights every October, GREEN SPRINGS in Tachikawa turns an ordinary bon odori into something stranger: dancers dressed as yokai — the ghosts, goblins and tricksters of Japanese folklore — circle the yagura tower under a string of paper lanterns. This guide covers what to expect, how to get there, and how to plan your visit.
DatesOct 10–12, 2026
VenueGREEN SPRINGS, Tachikawa
Access8 min walk, Tachikawa Sta.
Dress code3 ways to join in
What Is It
A Familiar Festival, Turned Sideways
Bon odori — community dancing held every summer to welcome ancestral spirits home — is one of Japan's oldest living traditions. Yokai Bon Odori keeps the circle dance and the yagura tower, but asks everyone in the paid area to show up as something else entirely: a yokai, in yukata, or in official festival merchandise.
Dress as a Yokai
Full costume, a single mask, or festival merch — three ways to meet the dress code for the ticketed Yagura Stage area.
See the dress code →Live Music & Yokai Disco
Artist live sets, traditional festival music (ohayashi), and after-dark DJ sets share the bill with the dancing itself.
See the full line-up of activities →Food & the Yokai Village
Free-entry food stalls, a merchandise corner, and on-site face-painting and yokai makeup booths.
Read our food guide →From the Blog
Plan Your Visit
Costumes
How to Become a Yokai
Practical costume and makeup ideas, from full transformation to a single mask.
Read more →Itinerary
One Perfect Day
A sample plan for combining the festival with the rest of Tachikawa.
Read more →