2026 Yosakoι Festival (よさこい祭り) Full-Day Experience Course

A full-day course celebrating the opening day of "Yosakoι Festival" (Yosakoι Matsuri), a major summer celebration in Kochi where over 200 teams from across Japan dance with naruko clappers (August 9-12, 2026, at Otesuji Main Competitive Venue and various performance venues throughout the city). Morning: Stroll leisurely along the Sunday Market on Otesuji, a 1km stretch of stalls continuing for over 320 years, browsing fresh vegetables, local specialties, and crafts. Head directly to Kochi Castle from there to view the streetscape from the keep—the very streets soon to be filled with the festival's rhythm. Afternoon: Travel to the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden to experience Kochi's natural beauty amid verdant gardens and beautiful tree-lined paths. Evening: Enjoy Kochi cuisine like Katsuo-no-tataki at Hirome Market with family. At 5 p.m., when the naruko sounds begin at the Otesuji Main Venue, plunge into the electric atmosphere as colorful teams take the stage in succession.