Koenji Awa Odori 2025: A Fresh View from the Shotengai

Smiling women in traditional dress and amigasa hats dance in a shopping arcade during Koenji Awa Odori 2025.

I did something different for Koenji Awa Odori 2025. Until this time, I shot all of them along Konan Street. I got good shots there, and while it was crowded, I could always find a place to shoot.

Women in traditional white and pink dress and amigasa hats perform at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

There was never a need to go anywhere else. I assumed that the station area would be far too crowded to get to, so why go there? But this time, I felt the need to change.

Close-up of a joyful dancer with a small red headpiece at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

How many times have I been to the Koenji Awa Odori? Two articles about it are on this blog, but I published many more on a previous one. They all had one thing in common: Konan Street. In 2025, I would do the same thing again? That triggered something in my brain.

Women in yellow and white traditional dress and amigasa hats perform the Awa Odori dance during a Japanese street festival.

A dancer in white and blue festival attire smiles while performing with a fan at Koenji Awa Odori 2025.

Women in blue traditional dress and straw amigasa hats dance at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

Is there a flaw in my photography? It’s the need to search for “safe” things. I want to show Tokyo, which means getting the best photos I can. Risk-taking isn’t a part of my mindset. Is it a lack of curiosity, or just the powerful allure of the comfort zone?

Children in yellow and red happi coats perform the Awa Odori dance on a street during a Japanese summer festival.

Man in red festival attire and headband performs an energetic dance at a crowded Japanese street festival.

Koenji Awa Odori 2025 changed my routine

But I was looking around on the internet before the event, and I saw shots taken on Koenji Pal shopping street, a local shopping mall. It’s close to the station.

A thought hit me, let’s do something different. And that is exactly what I did. I took my first Koenji Awa Odori photos from a different location for the first time. I’d shoot under a roof.

A woman in a purple kimono and amigasa hat performs a dance at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

Dancers in traditional amigasa hats and blue-and-white attire perform at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

First shots in the covered shotengai

I arrived for Koenji Awa Odori 2025 a little later than usual, and proceeded to the shotengai, the covered shopping arcade that runs from the station. My new approach paid off immediately.

While still at the top of the mall, I heard a familiar tune coming from taiko (drums), flutes (fue), and gongs (kane). I picked up the pace and soon came across Koroku-ren (小六連) warming up for the festival.

Man in patterned white and blue attire performs the Awa Odori dance with a fan on a street during a Japanese festival. — *A Koroku-ren member warming up*

They even invited the public to dance with them. I’d never seen that before. My decision to go somewhere new was already vindicated. And it got better.

Men in blue and white festival dress perform with fans during the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

Young girl in a pink and blue kimono performs the Awa Odori dance at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

Getting closer for photos

Koenji Pal shopping street is long and narrow, with a spectating crowd on both sides. The mall isn’t even half the width of Konan Street. I shot the dancers mostly from an almost head-on position.

Black and white photo of men in traditional dress playing large taiko drums during Koenji Awa Odori. — *Tengu-ren taiko players making their way down Koenji Pal shopping street.*

The narrow confines of the arcade created an intimacy similar to that of the Shimokitazawa event. I wasn’t just capturing a dance troupe; I was close enough to see their intense concentration, the beads of sweat on their brow, and the weave of their happi coats. The cheering wasn’t distant; it was a wall of energy right beside the performers.

Women wearing traditional kimono and large straw amigasa hats seen from behind at a Japanese street festival.

Growth is outside the comfort zone

As I eventually moved to Konan Street for the more familiar shots, the contrast was stark. This experience has been a startling revelation. How many other photos have I missed because I stuck to what was safe? My goal for next time is already set.

A dancer in an orange happi performs with a fan during the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 Japanese street festival.

I’ll be back in that arcade, hunting for that perfect head-on shot. It’s a reminder that true growth in photography doesn’t come from a perfect location, but from the intentional decision to seek a new perspective.

Women in red and white dress and straw amigasa hats dance with fans at the Koenji Awa Odori 2025 street festival.

Planning your own visit?

This article covered Koenji Awa Odori 2025. For everything you need to know about attending and that means dates, photo spots, and insider tips—look at our guide [Koenji Awa Odori Photography Guide].