Nippon Domannaka Festival (Domatsuri) にっぽんど真ん中祭り

Every year at the end of August, thousands of performers from around Japan and the world gather in Nagoya for an extravaganza of culture, music and dance known as the Nippon Domannaka Festival. Inspired by the local culture of the dancers, the performances draw crowds from across the country.

The festival is celebrated in multiple venues across the city, but the main stage is at Hisaya Odori Koen Park. The venue is a one-minute walk from Yabacho Station on the Meijo Subway Line, or three minutes from Sakae Station on either the Higashiyama or Meijo subway lines.

Domatsuri is the largest dance festival in the Chubu region, and is one of the highlights of Nagoya's summer. Around 200 teams and a total of nearly 20,000 performers come together to put on a dance display that is watched by around 2 million spectators over the 4 days of the festival.

Original music, bright costumes and elaborate dance routines that incorporate and encapsulate aspects of their local culture are the hallmarks of each performance.

While the festival takes place in more than 20 venues around Nagoya, the main stage is at Hisaya Odori Koen. Paid seating is available, but you can sit and watch the event from the park for free.