A new bon odori festival for children is coming to Tsukuba, Ibaraki. ADACHI HOUSE Inc. is holding "Tsukuba Kids Bon Odori 2026" at Kenkyu Gakuen Ekimae Park in Tsukuba on Saturday, August 1, 2026 — a free, family-friendly summer festival billed, half-jokingly, as Japan's lowest-budget bon odori.
The event is co-organized with THfes., born from the wish to give children the kind of hometown summer-festival memories that are becoming harder to come by.
As local festivals decline across the country, the event aims to become a new seasonal tradition where Tsukuba's children can enjoy bon odori, music, food, and games together with family and friends.
The venue will feature not only a live stage but also a kids' DJ experience, game stalls, handcraft activities, workshops, and kitchen cars — content for children and adults to enjoy all day long.
The event's finale will feature a hand-held sparkler fireworks display, bringing back a touch of nostalgic summer memories.
Background
Tsukuba is home to many families raising children, but opportunities for kids to connect with local culture through summer festivals are becoming fewer year by year.
The organizers hope to create a community event that connects people in the area, gives children unforgettable summer memories, and brings local shops and businesses into the excitement together.
Through music and bon odori, the event is designed as a new community gathering where generations can connect with one another.
Special Live by 安達勇人
安達勇人, an artist based in Ibaraki, will serve as MC and perform live. A commemorative photo session is also planned for the event's finale.
Stage and Venue Events
On stage and around the venue, a wide range of artists and local performers gathered through social media outreach will help liven up the event, including イグアナの船長, 咲良春花, 澁澤克月, 優矢, HAPPY CREATORS, GLOBALVIOLET, 3-UP, STUDIO Link, 沢城千春, Monday Dirty Jokes, Regina Cheer Dance Team, PHOENIX CHEERLEADERS, スタジオラフラン, LOICX☆チアダンススクール, DJササキチ, 足長ピエロ, and 歌うバルーンパフォーマー★MIHARU★.
Kids Bon Odori
Near the end of the event, bon odori dancing will take place across the entire venue. It's the main feature of the summer festival, meant to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Kids DJ Booth
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, DJササキチ will host a kids' DJ booth, where visitors can enjoy dancing along to familiar anime songs and J-pop.
Family-Friendly Venue Content
The venue will also offer kitchen cars, game stalls, workshops, handcraft activities, artist merchandise, a drone experience, and a leisure-sheet seating area, with plenty to enjoy in every corner.
Event Details
Event name: Tsukuba Kids Bon Odori 2026
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Kenkyu Gakuen Ekimae Park (2-1 Gakuen-Minami, Tsukuba, Ibaraki)
Access: About a 2-minute walk from the South Exit of Kenkyu Gakuen Station on the Tsukuba Express
Admission: Free
Organizers: ADACHI HOUSE Inc., THfes.
Supported by: Tsukuba City
Sponsor: Ibaraki Tourism Campaign Promotion Council
Official website: https://www.tsukubakidsbonodori.com
What This Event Hopes to Achieve
Tsukuba Kids Bon Odori aims to give children a reason to fall in love with their community, while giving adults a chance to rediscover their connection to the area.
The organizers hope to keep holding the event as a new Tsukuba summer tradition, built together by local businesses, groups, performers, and visitors, and to keep creating opportunities — regardless of scale — for local residents, participants, and supporters to come together as one.
A Message from Founder and Ibaraki Ambassador 安達勇人
This time, we are holding the first-ever "Tsukuba Kids Bon Odori 2026" at Kenkyu Gakuen Ekimae Park in Tsukuba, Ibaraki.
Over the years, I've organized and produced a range of local events, including "IBARAKI DREAM LAND," a festival that draws tens of thousands of visitors every year, and the Kasama Noryo Bon Odori Fireworks Festival (笠間納涼盆踊り花火大会).
But this festival is completely different from anything I've done before.
"If there's no budget, then build it with ideas and passion."
With that spirit, I've taken on the challenge of building this festival from scratch on an intentionally tiny budget.
That's exactly why this festival could never have happened alone.
So many people in the community, performers, companies, and volunteer staff reached out and said, "This sounds fun!" and "Let's do it together!" It's thanks to all that love and enthusiasm coming together that this event is happening at all.
On the day, I'll probably be running all over the venue drenched in sweat (laughs). If you spot me, please feel free to say hello.
And more than anything, this is a festival that we're building together with everyone who comes.
I hope that, starting from this day, we can gradually nurture children's smiles, memories for the adults, and the future of the community.
This year's finale is hand-held sparklers, but I hope to grow this into a festival so loved by the community that, next year, we can launch bigger fireworks into the night sky.
"Tsukuba Kids Bon Odori 2026" is the first step toward that.
Please join us and watch the birth of Tsukuba's new summer festival together.
Our motto: "Sorry we don't have much of a budget!"
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you.
Ibaraki Ambassador, 安達勇人
