On the first weekend of August, Shimizu turns into one big street party. About 10,000 dancers in matching costumes fill the main avenue in front of Shimizu Station for the “Minato Kappore So-odori,” and on the final night, fireworks light up the harbor itself. In its biggest years, around 700,000 people have come over the three days, making it one of the biggest summer events in Shizuoka [[1]](https://www.minatokappore.jp/) [[7]](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E6%B0%B4%E3%81%BF%E3%81%AA%E3%81%A8%E7%A5%AD%E3%82%8A). This guide covers where the festival comes from, this year’s dates, what to see, and what to do if your cruise ship happens to be in port while it’s on.
🇯🇵 日本語版はこちら: 日本語で読む
The 2026 festival (July 31 – August 2) has ended. Going by its usual schedule, the next Shimizu Minato Matsuri will be held on the weekend that includes the first Sunday of August 2027 — official dates are announced by the organizers closer to the event. In the meantime, read the story behind the festival’s signature dance in our Minato Kappore history guide, or browse all our Shimizu port guides.
What Is the Shimizu Minato Matsuri?
The Shimizu Minato Matsuri (Shimizu Port Festival) began in 1947. The war had left the town exhausted, and local business leaders centered on the port called on the city and the chamber of commerce to start a festival that would bring some life back. They chose the timing deliberately: August 4th, the anniversary of Shimizu Port’s opening to international trade in 1899 [[2]](https://sizkk-net.or.jp/magazine/252/zoomup/).
So this has been a port festival from day one. Shimizu had served coastal shipping on the old Tokaido route since the Edo period, and after opening to foreign trade it became the gateway for Japan’s tea exports. The festival is, at heart, the port’s birthday party, and it has been running for nearly 80 years.
Today it takes place over three days, from the Friday through the Sunday that includes the first Sunday of August, in the area between JR Shimizu Station and Hinode Pier [[3]](https://call.city.shizuoka.jp/20781).
2026 Festival Dates
The 77th Shimizu Minato Matsuri runs Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, 2026 [[4]](https://www.visit-shizuoka.com/event/detail_618.html).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 31 (Fri) – August 2 (Sun), 2026 |
| Main venues | Satsuki Street (in front of JR Shimizu Station), Hinode Pier |
| Kappore So-odori dance parade | Evenings of the first two days |
| Fireworks over the bay | Final night, off Hinode Pier |
| Admission | Free (some paid viewing seats) |
Exact start times vary from year to year, so check the official website’s schedule before you go [[1]](https://www.minatokappore.jp/).
Highlight 1: The Minato Kappore So-odori
The heart of the festival is the So-odori, a mass dance parade along Satsuki Street. Teams from local companies, neighborhoods, and schools dance their way down the avenue in matching costumes, about 10,000 participants from some 250 teams across the two days (the 2025 figure). Even watching from the roadside, the drums and chanting pull you in [[5]](https://travel.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2037256.html).
The dance itself, the “Minato Kappore,” is newer than you might guess. It was created in Shimizu for the festival’s 40th edition in 1987, based on “kappore,” a comic street dance handed down from Edo-period Japan [[2]](https://sizkk-net.or.jp/magazine/252/zoomup/). Trace kappore back far enough and you reach Sumiyoshi Taisha, a great shrine in Osaka, and from there an ancient legend that loops back to Shimizu Port itself. It’s a story worth telling properly, so we’ve written it up in a companion article: The History of Kappore: How a Street Dance Came Home to Shimizu.
Alongside kappore you’ll see other local dances, including ones honoring Jirocho, the Edo-period boss turned port developer who is Shimizu’s favorite son. Some years there’s an open section where visitors can jump in and dance, so ask at the festival if you’re tempted.
Highlight 2: Fireworks Over the Bay
On the final night, about 10,000 fireworks go up from the water off Hinode Pier. Watching them burst over the harbor, with the reflections on the water, is the classic Shimizu summer scene [[6]](https://www.minatokappore.jp/hanabi/).
The pier area fills up from late afternoon. If you want a good spot, arrive an hour or two before sunset. Food stalls line the venue, so plan on dinner from the stalls; it’s part of the experience.
Highlight 3: Events at Hinode Pier
Depending on the year, the pier hosts extras like public tours of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels [[5]](https://travel.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2037256.html). Since the pier is also the fireworks venue, you can easily spend the whole day there: ships and harbor views in the afternoon, fireworks after dark.
Getting There
By train: JR Shimizu Station on the Tokaido Line. Satsuki Street, the parade venue, is right outside the station. From Shizuoka Station it’s about 11 minutes on a local train.
A word of caution: Roads around the venues close to traffic during the festival. Skip the car and use the train. Shimizu Station gets extremely crowded after the fireworks, so buy your return ticket in advance or top up your IC card before the show ends.
If Your Cruise Ship Is in Port During the Festival
Cruise ships call at Shimizu in summer too, and if your port day overlaps with the festival, you’ve drawn a lucky card. Ships dock at Hinode Pier, which is one of the festival venues, so you walk off the gangway and straight into the party.
To check whether a port call lines up with the festival, see our Shimizu Port Cruise Guide. And if you want to eat well between events, Shimizu is Japan’s top tuna port; our Shimizu Seafood Guide covers what to order and where.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the festival go ahead in rain?
Light rain usually doesn’t stop it, but in bad weather each event is cancelled or postponed individually. Check the official website or social media on the day [[1]](https://www.minatokappore.jp/).
Q: Where’s the best place to watch the fireworks?
The area around Hinode Pier is closest and most dramatic. If you’d rather avoid the thickest crowds, spots along the waterfront a little further out still give you a fine view. Some years paid seating is available.
Q: Can visitors join the dancing?
Watching from the roadside is free and open to everyone. Dancing is mainly for registered teams, but some years include an open-participation section.
Q: Are there food stalls?
Plenty, along Satsuki Street and around Hinode Pier. They get crowded after dark, so going early pays off.
Sources and References
Numbers in brackets [ ] in the text refer to the sources below.
- Shimizu Minato Matsuri Official Website (Japanese)
- Interview with the festival committee chair — Kensetsu Shizuoka, Summer 2013 (Japanese)
- About the Shimizu Minato Matsuri — Shizuoka City Call Center (Japanese)
- 77th Shimizu Minato Matsuri — Shizuoka City Tourism Navi (Japanese)
- Festival report: dancing, fireworks and warships — Travel Watch (Japanese)
- Shimizu Minato Matsuri Fireworks — Official (Japanese)
- Shimizu Minato Matsuri — Wikipedia (Japanese)
*Last updated: July 2026. Dates, venues, and events change from year to year. Always check the official website for the latest information before visiting.*