LOOOP (Loop), an outdoor festival held at Midori-no-Shima (Midori Island) — a waterfront park at the foot of Mount Hakodate — is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, 2026. Now in its second year, the festival weaves traditional bon odori together with contemporary music culture, aiming to keep a fading regional tradition alive for the next generation.
Three Highlights at LOOOP 2026
The inaugural LOOOP in 2025 drew approximately 1,700 visitors on its first day before the second day was cancelled due to bad weather. The 2026 edition builds on that foundation with a stronger lineup and expanded activities across both days.
1. Live Music and a Play Park
Day two centers on music performances, with eight acts including DJ and music producer SHINICHI OSAWA and SPECIAL OTHERS ACOUSTIC. Day one features a 3-on-3 basketball tournament hosted by Hakodate-based freestyle basketball performer Whitea, along with local dance teams and taiko drum performances.
Both days include a family-friendly play park area with a touch pool showcasing marine life from the waters near Hakodate, festival game stalls, a Beyblade experience, and a foam machine that was popular at the first event.
2. A Giant Marché with More Than 50 Vendors
A food and craft market brings together over 50 vendors from Hakodate and across Japan over the two days. Local participants include craft beer producer White Seed and NY-style pizza restaurant Sinot PIZZA. Vendors from further afield include HIGUMA Doughnuts, which uses Hokkaido-grown ingredients; ZZZ365, known for its award-winning french fries; Melbourne-based PRANA CHAI; and Kita-de Tacos, a Tokyo-based taco restaurant using domestically produced tortillas.
3. New-Style Bon Odori and an Original Ondo
On day one, the traditional bon odori circle is accompanied by live band music from "Namaoto Keikaku." On day two, DJ "Chinban-tei Goraku Shisho" provides the soundtrack. The festival is also developing an original "LOOOP Bon Odori Ondo," with choreography being crowdsourced through social media. From 6:00 PM onward, admission is free on both days, and the dance circle opens to all visitors with an evening view of Mount Hakodate in the background.
Background: Preserving a Living Tradition
Bon odori gatherings are declining across Japan, and Hakodate is no exception. The tradition has no written scores or rulebooks — it has always been passed down through direct participation, body by body, in the dancing circle. Once the people who know the dances are gone, the tradition itself disappears.
LOOOP aims not merely to preserve this tradition in its original form, but to reintroduce it through a fusion with contemporary culture — music, markets, and community events — so that younger generations and visitors can connect with it in a new way.
Crowdfunding Campaign Now Underway
A crowdfunding campaign for LOOOP launched on May 30, 2026 on CAMPFIRE, with a goal of 3,000,000 yen. Funds will go toward improving the event's quality and covering operational costs, including the construction of a traditional yagura (central festival tower) and heatstroke countermeasures.
Selected rewards include:
- Crowdfunding-exclusive squid character sticker: ¥1,500
- Main visual face towel (with optional 2-day pass): from ¥4,000
- Original T-shirts in various designs (with optional 2-day pass): from ¥5,500
- Named lantern displayed at the venue: ¥15,000
- Name or company logo displayed on the yagura at the center of the bon odori circle: ¥200,000
Event Details
Event name: LOOOP
Dates:
- Saturday, July 25, 2026: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday, July 26, 2026: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Venue: Midori-no-Shima (Midori Island), 15 Omachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Admission: Ticketed (bon odori time from 6:00 PM onward is free on both days)
| Ticket Type | Advance | Door |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | ¥1,000 | ¥1,500 |
| Day 2 | ¥3,000 | ¥3,500 |
| 2-Day Pass | ¥3,500 | ¥4,500 |
| Middle school students and younger | Free | Free |
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/looop_hakodate
Crowdfunding page (CAMPFIRE): https://camp-fire.jp/projects/949614/view
