Hokkai Heso Matsuri
Dates
2026-07-28 – 2026-07-29
Venue
Shin-Aioi Street, central Furano
Address
4 Asahimachi, Furano City, Hokkaido 076-0026
Nearest Station
JR Furano Station (approx. 3 min walk to Shin-Aioi Street)
Hours
Day 1: 11:00-21:00 / Day 2: 10:00-20:50
Admission
Free
Overview
Hokkai Heso Matsuri (Belly Button Festival) is a summer festival held in Furano, central Hokkaido, every July 28 and 29. The festival celebrates Furano's identity as the geographical center of Hokkaido. Dancers paint large comic faces on their bellies and parade through central Furano, dancing the Heso Odori (Belly Button Dance) in unison. The festival began in 1969 and now attracts both local participants and visitors from across Japan and overseas. Food stalls, stage performances, and shrine events spread across the city center, all within walking distance from JR Furano Station.
Highlights
The signature moment is the Heso Odori parade, where dance teams with painted bellies advance through central Furano during the evening hours. The main bellybutton dance competition takes place from 19:00 to 20:00 on both days. Visitors can also join the dance themselves through a same-day registration process. Food stalls line the festival streets with local Furano specialties such as melon and dairy products. The festival is accessible by foot from JR Furano Station in about 3 minutes, with admission free at all venues.