🏮 Hokkai Heso Matsuri
北海へそ祭り
Furano, Hokkaido · Every year on 28–29 July
317 days to go
Rooms around Furano, Hokkaido fill up while the festival is on.
The Hokkai Heso Festival is held every year on July 28 and 29 on the Shin-Aioi-dori shopping street in Furano, Hokkaido. The festival takes its name from Furano's location at the geographic center of Hokkaido — 'heso' means navel. It is also the annual festival of Kitashin Shrine (Heso Shrine), and as a summer event it draws visitors not only from within Hokkaido but from across Japan and overseas. It began in 1969, the same year the Furano Citizens' Charter was established, and became established as the annual festival of Kitashin Shrine, which was founded in 1974. The main attraction is the Zufuku Odori dance, in which participants paint their stomachs to look like faces and dance while hiding their heads under large umbrellas. The venue also features a Heso Specialty Market selling local ingredients, food trucks, and fireworks, making it enjoyable for all ages.
Getting there
About 15 minutes on foot from JR Furano Station. Temporary parking is available near the venue.
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