Naha Hari Festival

Okinawa is a beautiful island in Japan, renowned for its warm climate, stunning beaches, and rich cultural heritage. One of the island’s most exciting events is the Naha Hari Festival. This festival celebrates the sea and features thrilling dragon boat races. It’s a perfect way to experience Okinawa’s vibrant spirit and traditions. In Okinawa, the Hari festivals, or Hare, are vibrant seaside events that honor the sea and pray for the safety of fishermen and a bountiful catch. The largest, Naha Hari, attracts thousands of locals and tourists yearly during Japan’s Golden Week from May 3 to May 5.

Naha Hari Festival

Photo by: PIXTA/ mitch23 The festival now represents Okinawa’s vibrant culture and history

The Naha Hari has a long history that goes back over 600 years. According to one tale, Nagahama Tayu created a dragon boat after witnessing one in Nanjing. This tradition blossomed into a major celebration during the Ryukyu Kingdom but faced bans after the kingdom’s fall in 1879. Finally revived for the 1975 Okinawa Ocean Expo, the festival now represents Okinawa’s vibrant culture and history.

The festival is more than just boat races. It showcases Okinawa’s culture with traditional music and dance performances. Visitors can enjoy various delicious food from stalls, including yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and Okinawa soba, as well as local sweets. Each night ends with a spectacular fireworks display that brightens the sky. This mix of boat races, music, food and fireworks creates a lively atmosphere everyone can appreciate.

Festival Highlights

Photo by: PIXTA/ t.nehala The highlight of the Naha Hari Festival is the exciting dragon boat races.

The highlight of the Naha Hari Festival is the exciting dragon boat races. These races feature beautiful boats called Haryusen, which are 14.5 meters long. Each boat has a crew of 42 people, including 32 rowers, bell ringers, and flag bearers. The boats are decorated with bright colors and impressive dragon designs on the front and back, making them a stunning sight on the water. The races take place in Naha’s waters, where teams compete for the title of champion.

Before the final race, a ritual called “ugan-bari” occurs. Teams in traditional outfits circle the wharf, singing a prayer to the sea deity to express gratitude. This ritual adds depth to the festival before the final race, “hon-bari,” which determines the overall champion.

One of the highlights of the Naha Hari Festival is the chance to hop aboard a dragon boat and try your hand at rowing! Just remember, participants need to be at least 100cm tall, and a small fee ensures your safety.