Okinawa Spring Festivals: Lunar New Year, Seimei Grave Visits, and Ryukyuan Annual Events

Okinawa is a region where annual events based on the lunar calendar are still deeply rooted in daily life even now. The many traditional events handed down without interruption since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom are a distinctive culture a little different from the mainland, making a spring trip to Okinawa all the more flavorful. By not only touring famous sights but also coming into contact with regional festivals, you can feel the depth of the daily life and faith of Okinawa's people.

Lunar New Year (Sogwachi)

The custom of grandly celebrating the lunar New Year (usually around late January to February), centered on fishing towns such as Itoman, still remains. The sight of fishing boats flying big-catch flags lined up in rows at the harbor is spectacular. In various places, eisa and Ryukyu dance are dedicated, and families and communities welcome the New Year as one. Household rituals of pressing one's hands together before the fire deity (Hinukan) and the Buddhist altar are also valued.

Shimi (Seimei Festival)

A grave-visiting event unique to Okinawa, held during the Qingming period of the third lunar month (around April). The whole clan gathers in front of a large turtle-back tomb (kamekobaka), spreads out jubako boxed dishes (usanmi) and sweets, and eats and converses together with the ancestors — a bright and lively ancestral memorial. People from the mainland are surprised by the distinctive custom of spending time in front of the grave as if having a picnic.

Naha Hari

Held on the fourth day of the fifth lunar month (around Golden Week), it is one of Okinawa's largest festivals praying for a good catch and maritime safety. The race in which colorful large dragon boats (haryusen) compete in rowing at Naha Port is full of power, amid the sounds of drums and cheering. There are also an experience hari that anyone can join and a fireworks display, so tourists can get excited together too.

Best Season and Access

The Lunar New Year is around February, Shimi is around April, and the Naha Hari is around the May holidays as a guide. Because they are lunar-calendar events, the dates change from year to year, so check the latest event information before visiting. Each event is held in various places on the main island of Okinawa. The venue of the Naha Hari, Naha Port, can be accessed by Yui Rail, bus, or car.

Practical Information for the Naha Hari and the Itoman Hare

Naha Hari (based on the 2026 event)

• Dates: Sunday 3 to Tuesday 5 May 2026, both public holidays (the 52nd edition). It is fixed to 3-5 May each year
• Venue: the New Port Wharf of Naha Port (1-14 Minatomachi, Naha City, Okinawa)
• Watching: free. It runs from 10:00
• Programme: 3 May, the Naha Hari races (junior high schools and PTAs; open and community teams) / 4 May, Hari trial rides and a public opening of a patrol vessel / 5 May, the Naha Hari races (open B and A) and the traditional rites, the Ugan Bari and the Hon Bari, the Naha-Kume-Tomari contest that is the climax
• Trial Hari rides: 4 May, (1) 10:45-12:00 and (2) 12:45-15:30, 300 yen per person, for those at least 100 cm tall
• Parking: there is no car park for visitors. Public transport or a taxi is recommended
• Food stalls: stalls are set up (in 2026 the stall space was reduced to about half its usual size)
• Note: in 2026 there were no fireworks or stage events. About 200,000 people attend over the three days
• Enquiries: Naha City Tourism Association, 098-862-1442 (closed weekends and public holidays)

Itoman Hare (based on the 2026 event)

• Date: held every year on "Yukkanuhi," the fourth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which in 2026 fell on Thursday 18 June (the date in the modern calendar changes each year)
• Times: 9:15 opening ceremony / 10:00 racing begins
• Venue: the central district of Itoman Fishing Port (603-1 Itoman, Itoman City, Okinawa)
• Format: the crews race divided into the three old village communities of Nishimura, Nakamura and Arajima
• Traffic restrictions: in force around the central district of Itoman Fishing Port
• Enquiries: Itoman Hare Event Committee, 098-851-8339

Note: neither event has a nearest railway station (there is no railway in the south of Okinawa's main island; for the Naha Hari use the Yui Rail or a bus, and for the Itoman Hare a bus or a car). Toilets and what happens in wet weather are not published officially.

(Source: Okinawa Story, the Okinawa tourism information website; NAHANAVI, the Naha City Tourism Association; Itoman City official website)