Kanto · TochigiFestival
A bon dance born from a single imperial factory visit in 1913, still held every August beside a pond inside a working Furukawa Electric plant.
Overview
Nikko Waraku Odori has an origin story unlike any other bon dance. In September 1913, Emperor Taisho and Empress Teimei visited the Nikko Electric Copper Refinery — reportedly the first imperial visit to a private company in Japan. Relieved that the inspection had gone well, employees sang and danced at the banquet that evening, and the improvisation stuck.
What began as a staff celebration is now open to everyone. Residents of all ages dance in yukata around an illuminated yagura beside Waraku Pond, on the grounds of what is today the Furukawa Electric Nikko Works, with tens of thousands of lights strung through the site.
What to Expect
The evening opens with a pre-programme from 17:20, the Waraku dance itself runs 19:00 to 21:00, and a prize draw called Waraku no Sato closes proceedings at 21:00 — entry requires the uchiwa fan handed out on arrival with a lottery ticket attached.
The Waraku melody has travelled well beyond Nikko and is now one of the tunes most commonly heard at bon dances across Tochigi and the wider Kanto region, so the music may be familiar even if the festival is not.
Getting There
From Tokyo, take the Tobu Nikko Line limited express from Asakusa, or the JR route via Utsunomiya, to Nikko — roughly two hours either way. From JR Nikko or Tobu Nikko Station, Tobu buses toward Chuzenji Onsen reach the Kiyotaki Chuzaisho-mae stop in about 20 minutes, leaving a five-minute walk. On the night, the organisers run free shuttle buses from both station forecourts, which is the easiest option.
By car it is about five minutes from the Kiyotaki interchange on the Nikko-Utsunomiya Road, but there is no dedicated festival car park.
Dates and Admission
The 2026 edition was held on Friday 7 August. The festival normally falls on a Friday in early August at the same site; Tochigi’s prefectural tourism association currently lists the next edition as Friday 6 August 2027, marked as provisional, so treat that date as unconfirmed until the organisers announce it.
Free to attend, with no advance booking. The 2026 edition coincided with the 120th anniversary of the plant’s founding.
Tips for Visitors
Take the free shuttle rather than driving — there is no festival car park and the road up toward Chuzenji is narrow. Yukata are common but not required, and joining the circle is expected rather than tolerated. Keep the uchiwa fan you are given at the entrance: the lottery ticket attached to it is your entry to the 21:00 prize draw. Combining this with a daytime visit to the Nikko shrines works well, since the site is on the road toward Lake Chuzenji.
Access and Map
| Date | Friday 7 August 2026 (next edition provisionally 6 August 2027) |
|---|---|
| Times | Pre-programme 17:20–19:00; Waraku dance 19:00–21:00; prize draw 21:00 |
| Venue | Furukawa Electric Nikko Works, around Waraku Pond |
| Address | 500 Kiyotaki, Nikko City, Tochigi 321-1444 |
| Access | Bus from JR or Tobu Nikko Station toward Chuzenji Onsen, about 20 min to Kiyotaki Chuzaisho-mae, then 5 min on foot; free shuttles run on the night |
| Admission | Free, no booking required |
| Official site | Tochigi Tabi Net |
Source: Tochigi Tabi Net — Tochigi Prefecture official tourism site
