![](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-87-1-830x553.jpg)
When summer arrives in Japan, Bon Odori festivals light up the entire country, and Nagoya is no exception. Originating as a religious dance to welcome and honor ancestral spirits, Bon Odori is a dance for everyone to participate in, expressing their thoughts and offering prayers to their ancestors. With over 1000 years of history, “Bon Odori” plays a vital role as a memorial event and a means of fostering community connections. The local Bon Odori festival held at Ueno Park in Nagoya’s Chikusa-ku was back after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic! So we decided to infiltrate and experience the festivities firsthand!
Revel in the Joy and Excitement of the Long-Awaited Bon Odori Festival Among the Locals
![Local residents dancing Bon Odori at Ueno Park in Nagoya.](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-98-1.jpg)
![Local residents gather, infusing the summer festival with growing excitement at Ueno park in Nagoya.](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-89.jpg)
![Kids enjoy crushed ice](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-90-1.jpg)
![Night atmosphere of the summer festival in Nagoya](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-93-1.jpg)
![Ueno summer festival Nagoya](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-86.jpg)
![Night ueno park](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-94.jpg)
![Slider at Ueno park](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-95.jpg)
![The festival committee](https://hyperlocalnagoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/New-Project-92.jpg)
Ueno Park (上野公園)
2-16-16 Ueno, Ueno Park, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya