The heat is on—literally. And what better way to spend a midsummer day in Okinawa than watching people paddle like their BBQ depends on it? The Tomigusuku Hari Festival is back for its 18th edition, and it’s bringing waves of excitement, water splashes, and some serious arm workouts to Tomigusuku City, the birthplace of this legendary boat race.
This isn’t just your average neighborhood boat showdown. We’re talking about a 600-year-old tradition revived into a full-blown, high-energy, community-screaming event. It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s possibly the only time you’ll see PTA moms battling it out on the water. Don’t miss it!
🐲 What’s a Hari Anyway?
Hari (sometimes spelled “Haarii”) is a traditional Okinawan dragon boat race believed to have originated from China centuries ago. It was introduced to Tomigusuku about 600 years ago by the local lord of Tomigusuku Castle. Originally held to pray for safety at sea and a good harvest, the event has evolved into a high-stakes, fast-paced water race featuring long narrow boats, rhythmic drumming, and teams rowing in (hopefully) perfect sync.
Today, it’s not just a spiritual ritual—it’s a splashy community showdown with teams made up of students, parents, and brave locals. Expect cheering, taiko drums, and maybe someone yelling, “ROW FASTER, DAD!”
🗓️ Event Schedule
🛶 July 20 (Sunday) – General Division
🎤 Opening Ceremony: 11:00 AM
🚣 Races Begin: 12:00 PM
👩🦰 Ladies’ Races
🙌 General Team Races
🕕 Races End Around: 6:00 PM
👶 July 21 (Monday, Marine Day) – Student Division
🎤 Opening Ceremony: 12:45 PM
🚸 Races Begin: 1:30 PM
🏃 Student Races
👨👧 Parent-Child Races
🏫 PTA/PTCA Races
🕓 Races End Around: 4:00 PM
📍 Where’s It Happening?
Head to the waterway and green space between iias Okinawa Toyosaki and Toyosaki Chura SUN Beach. If you see the Yuibashi bridge, you’re in the right place. Just follow the sound of beating drums and boats crashing into each other in the name of tradition.
🎟️ Admission
Free. Yup, totally free. All the water-fueled adrenaline, zero yen.
🚗 Parking Info
🅿️ Free Parking: iias Okinawa Toyosaki
💰 Paid Parking: Toyosaki Chura SUN Beach (because sand doesn’t pay for itself)
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🐉 Why You Should Go
Because it’s a 600-year-old tradition that includes kids, parents, and possibly your dentist all racing in dragon boats. There’s something ridiculously fun about watching grown adults wobble in unison while trying to look fierce. It’s loud, chaotic, and wildly entertaining.
And hey—where else can you say you saw a PTA group crush a boat race while yelling over taiko drums?
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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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