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From Fussa to Tachikawa: A Short History of Yokai Bon Odori

Most bon odori festivals in Japan trace back decades, sometimes centuries, to a specific shrine or neighborhood association. Yokai Bon Odori is younger and stranger — a 2019 experiment that turned into a fixture of the west Tokyo autumn calendar.

An Origin in Fussa

The festival started in Fussa City, a quieter part of west Tokyo best known for its proximity to Yokota Air Base. Its founding premise was simple to state and unusual to see in practice: keep the circle dance and the yagura tower at the center of a bon odori, but ask everyone entering the paid area to come dressed as a yokai instead of the customary yukata.

The Move to GREEN SPRINGS

In its more recent editions, the festival relocated to GREEN SPRINGS, a shopping, hotel and green-space development in Tachikawa. The larger venue gave organizers room to expand the concept: more stalls, a bigger stage program, and enough space to run both a free public zone and a ticketed performance area side by side. The event has returned to GREEN SPRINGS in each of the following years, with the 2026 edition again scheduled for three days in October.

Why It Grew

Two things seem to have driven its growth. First, the yokai premise gives the festival a strong, photographable identity that traditional bon odori — which can look similar from town to town — often lacks. Second, its programming leans further into live entertainment than a typical neighborhood festival: artist performances, DJ sets, and a costume contest sit alongside the traditional dancing rather than being an afterthought to it.

Where It Stands Today

The event is organized by the Yokai Bon Odori Executive Committee. For current dates and programming, see the official festival site.