If you’re in Naha and need an excuse to get out of the house (and away from your AC), mark May 17 and 18 on your calendar. The Namin Festival is coming back, and it’s bringing two days of sumo, tea, tug-of-war, and more Okinawan culture than you can fit into a souvenir tote bag.
This isn’t just any local festival — we’re talking about events happening across Naminoue Shrine, Asahigaoka Park, Naminoue Beach, and Palette Kumoji Square. So wear comfy shoes, maybe bring a folding fan, and get ready to snack, clap, and cheer.
Here’s what’s happening 👇
🗓️ When?
Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2025
(Some stuff even kicks off the night before on the 16th — because why not?)
📍Where?
Main action is at Naminoue Shrine (Wakasa 1-25-11, Naha), but things are also going down at Asahigaoka Park, Naminoue Beach, and Palette Kumoji Square.
🌃 Friday, May 16 – Warming Up the Fest
🏮 Evening Festival (Yoi-miya)
Starts at 6:00 PM at Naminoue Shrine’s main hall.
A low-key kickoff for what’s about to be a pretty packed weekend.
🎊 Saturday, May 17 – Full-on Festival Mode
⛩️ Grand Festival
Starts at 10:00 AM at Naminoue Shrine.
Expect ceremonial dances like Hatsuho no Mai, Urayasu no Mai, and Chigo Kagura — a good dose of sacred vibes to get things rolling.
🍵 Buku-buku Tea Offering
1:30 PM at the shrine’s main hall and gathering space.
It’s foamy. It’s fancy. It’s tea.
🎶 Traditional Performances
2:00 PM at the main hall.
Noh chanting and Taisho koto (think: old-school Japanese musical elegance).
🏆 Literary Contest & Awards
3:00 PM at the shrine and gathering hall.
No spoilers, but if you’ve got a favorite Okinawan haiku writer, maybe this is their moment.
🤼♂️ Kids’ Sumo & Toy Making
1:00 PM at Asahigaoka Park’s sumo ring.
Watch kids wrestle for glory while others craft traditional Okinawan toys. Chaos? Yes. Fun? Also yes.
💃 Eisa Drum Show
6:00 PM at the special stage in Asahigaoka Park (rain plan: Wakasa Community Center).
Performers from Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko will bring the beat — and probably a few sore arms.
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🏮 Sunday, May 18 – Parade, Dance, Tug-of-War, and Karaoke Because Why Not
🚶♂️ Mikoshi Parade
Starts at 10:00 AM, marching from Naminoue Shrine to Palette Kumoji.
Expect drums, dancing, and lots of phone cameras blocking your view.
🍵 Outdoor Tea Ceremony
2:30 PM at the shrine’s main hall.
Grab a cup and pretend you’re refined for a few minutes.
💃 Ryukyuan Dance
3:30 PM on the shrine’s stage.
Graceful moves, traditional costumes — your Instagram Stories will thank you.
💪 Okinawan Sumo Showdown
2:00 PM at Asahigaoka Park’s sumo ring.
It’s the 66th All-Island Okinawan Sumo Tournament, so yeah, it’s a big deal.
🔗 Beach Tug-of-War + Soup Giveaway
3:00 PM at Naminoue Beach.
Who pulls harder? Who spills soup? Find out live.
🎺 JSDF Band Performance
5:00 PM at Asahigaoka Park’s special stage (rain plan: Wakasa Community Center).
Military precision meets musical flair.
🎤 Karaoke Showdown
6:00 PM at Asahigaoka Park’s stage (also moves to Wakasa if it rains).
It’s the 28th edition, so you know someone’s bringing a power ballad.
🎟️ Admission?
Free. As in, 100% no yen required. Also, things like the Buku-buku tea, toy-making, and free tea/soup are all first-come, first-served — so don’t show up late and cry into your empty cup.
It’s a weekend packed with tradition, fun, and probably more festival food than you planned to eat. Great for kids, culture buffs, or anyone who just wants to yell “Wasshoi!” in public.
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Disclaimer
⚠️Disclaimer: Our passion for supporting local businesses drives us to share information about events in the Okinawa area. Please note that Oki Social is not responsible for hosting this event. It’s important to be aware that the event’s host reserves the right to make changes or even cancel the event without prior notice. Some photos and videos may come from various sources on the internet, whether official or unofficial. It is possible that some photos and videos may have been taken from the same event in previous occurrences.
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