Kagoshima’s biggest festival, named after a famous folk song from the seaside city in Kyushu, takes over Shibuya with parades, songs and dance performances on May 16 and 17. The main procession takes place between 12noon and 5pm on Sunday May 17, moving along Dogenzaka-dori and Bunkamura-dori streets. Expect to see dancers in colourful yukata and happi (festival jackets) accompanied by traditional drummers.
If the festivities inspire you to take a trip to Kagoshima, make sure to visit the city’s tourist information booth right there and then in front of Uniqlo Shibuya Dogenzaka.
This year, the parade is complemented by a separate Kagoshima Shochu & Music Fest, held concurrently on both days (12noon to 7pm, 6pm on Sun) at the fifth-floor Glade Park event space above the Dogenzaka Uniqlo. Here you can enjoy shochu from 24 distilleries based in Kagoshima, which is widely regarded as Japan’s premier producer of the stuff. Prices start from ¥300 a cup and over 20 brands of shochu on offer, you’re pretty sure to find some that’s to your liking.