62: Ōi Dontaku Summer Festival 大井どんたく夏祭り＜8月＞

Ōi Dontaku Summer Festival – Dancing Through the Streets

Every August, the streets of Ōi burst to life with the Ōi Dontaku Summer Festival (大井どんたく夏祭り), a vibrant celebration filled with parades, dancing, and community spirit. “Dontaku” comes from the Dutch word “zondag” (Sunday) and refers to festive holidays.

This is not just a nostalgic event, but a living showcase of the Ōi community’s enduring spirit. The festival spans multiple shopping streets and plazas, with food stalls, taiko drummers, and children’s games drawing thousands of visitors each year.

🕺 Past Entertainment Highlights

While details for the 2025 festival are yet to be announced, recent years give a clear picture of what to expect across the two-day event.

• Bon Odori: Join the community in evening folk dances set to taiko drums and festival music.
• Dance Fest: Nonstop performances by local youth crews, hip-hop teams, cheerleaders, and cultural groups on the main stage.
• Music Festival: Live acts ranging from jazz duos to Latin percussionists and disco bands.
• DiscoDONTAKU–☆: A DJ + live band extravaganza with SOUL & ROCK, J-pop medleys, and a grand disco finale under the stars.

🎪 Festival Zones

• Main Street: Food trucks, Kirin beer garden, military vehicle displays, speed-pitch booth, and an international village.
• Station Plaza: Scratch card prize draws, bug 🪲 exhibitions, and family games.
• Children’s Play Zone: Inflatable pools and activity booths for younger visitors.
• Pedestrian Deck: A Taiwanese night market with authentic street food and drinks.

Past musical acts have included NAMI NAMI SHOW (jazzy vocal duo), 四管獣band set (Hip-Hop meets saxophone), Gen con Yacel (Cuban-Japanese rhythm fusion), and Central Station (disco/soul). The diversity of genres makes this festival a celebration for all generations and tastes.

Expect packed streets, festival lights, cooling fans, and the clatter of geta sandals. Whether you come to dance, people-watch, or devour skewered squid, Oi Dontaku is one of Shinagawa’s defining seasonal events.

🎌 Origins of the Ōi Dontaku Summer Festival

The Ōi Dontaku Summer Festival (大井どんたく夏まつり) began in 1954 in the lively neighborhood of Ōimachi, Shinagawa. It was conceived as a community celebration to help revitalize the area after World War II. The festival coincided with the opening of the Tokyo Ōi branch of Hankyu Department Store in 1953, and was modeled on the spirit of Fukuoka’s Hakata Dontaku.

🏪 The Role of Hankyu and Shimizu Masashi

At the heart of the festival’s origin is Shimizu Masashi (清水雅), the first president of Hankyu Department Store Co., Ltd. (established 1947). After opening the first Tokyo store in Ōimachi, Shimizu remembered the joyful energy of Hakata Dontaku, which he had witnessed in Fukuoka during a 1952 lecture trip. Inspired, he proposed: “Let’s do a Dontaku in Ōimachi.” With that, the vision for a local celebration rooted in festive tradition took shape.

🌟 From Stage to Street: How It Started

The first editions of Ōi Dontaku were primarily stage-based. Actresses from the Toho talent group, part of the Hankyu-Toho conglomerate, performed live music and entertainment. This top-down style gradually shifted as local residents began participating on stage themselves—transforming the event into a grassroots celebration of neighborhood pride.

🏙️ The Festival Venue and Its Growth

The festival is held on the main street outside Ōimachi Station’s Central West Exit, spanning approximately 350 meters. Streets are closed off to traffic, making it one of the rare Tokyo festivals to completely take over a central commercial zone. Over time, the event has expanded to include Bon Odori dancing, food trucks, children’s play zones, Taiwan food fairs, and live performances—all contributing to its festive and welcoming atmosphere.

Today, Ōi Dontaku continues to thrive, organized by local shopping streets and loved by the community it was built to serve.

🧭 Visitor Information

Address: Around Ōimachi Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Best season: August (check city website for exact dates)

Admission: Free (festival stalls and viewing areas)

Official Info: Ōi Dontaku

Note: Come early for a good spot, and prepare for heat and crowds. Local volunteers help with directions and cleanup.