Tokyo’s Dancing Fools | Awa Odori + Totoro Café

Tokyo’s Dancing Fools | Awa Odori + Totoro Café

The cafe is tucked into a leafy residential area giving it that cozy, Ghibli charm It is a two-story wooden house with a European-cottage feel. The ground floor has a bakery and takeaway counter, with a cozy café upstairs. These are the cream puffs we so wanted … but by the time we arrived they were all sold out so we started looking for other interesting items They had forest souvenir and Totoro cookies! we got one for ourselves 🍪 they tasted delicious but were sad to bite into them 😁 These were apparently gifted by a store patron! we wished they were for sale! Since we could not get the cream puffs we went to a Taiyaki shop that also had a variety of Monaka Ice Creams! perfect for the warm Tokyo weather! We missed the cream puffs … but the Monaka lifted our spirits and got us into the Awa Odori vibe Monaka ice cream is a delightful Japanese twist on the classic ice cream sandwich … its light, crisp, and full of nostalgic charm This is a behind the scenes warm-up and pre-performance space … before entering the main parade route. Dancers use this space to rehearse steps, tune instruments and synchronize. Since Shimokitazawa’s streets are narrow and the festival is tightly choreographed … the fenced area helps control the flow of troupes entering the route in sequence. The area also serves as a last-minute spot for fixing yukata or adjusting headbands from front to back this is how the Awa Odori Ren (Troupe) flows .. This group is one of the local Awa Odori troupes based in Shimokitazawa The Awa Odori festival traces its roots to Tokushima (formerly Awa) it combines centuries-old folk and religious dance elements The phrase “The dancers are fools, the watchers are fools, so why not dance?” … is the spirit of Awa Odori In Japanese “Odoru ahō ni miru ahō, onaji ahō nara odoranya son son” The idea is that social judgment should be set aside in favor of shared celebration The Koganei Sakura Ren is a long-standing troupe based in Tokyo It was founded over 47 years ago Awa Odori gained momentum around 1586 when Hachisuka Iemasa … the feudal lord of Tokushima, allegedly hosted a wild celebration … for the opening of Tokushima Castle The Tokyo Ebisu Ren is a troupe known for its performances in Tokyo’s Ebisu district Awa Odori traces its spiritual lineage to Buddhist dances … which were performed to honor ancestors during Obon After WWII, Awa Odori was revived as a symbol of reconstruction … and community resilience This troupe is based in Tokyo & affiliated with the Koenji Awa Odori Federation. The name is Inspired by the mysterious ukiyo-e artist Toshusai Sharaku … known for his expressive kabuki portraits Takarabune has performed in over 20 countries, including New York City … Paris, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam They also featured in a TEDxUTokyo talk titled “A Dancing Maniac Changing the World” where they shared their vision of using Awa Odori to connect generations and cultures Benkei Ren is a spirited Awa Odori troupe based in Tokyo’s Koenji district They’re known for precise footwork, expressive gestures, and a strong sense of rhythm. Hifumi Ren is a local Awa Odori troupe based in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa district Sakura Sakura Ren is a Tokyo-based Koenji Awa Odori Federation troupe “Goraku” means “entertainment” or “amusement” in Japanese … fitting for a troupe that aims to bring smiles and excitement through dance Shinobu Ren is known for their Happi Odori, a dance style performed in happi coats they often feature fan choreography and expressive group movement. We ended the evening with a delicious bowl of Ramen! Hope you enjoyed the festival! See you in the next video ☺️

Experience Tokyo’s Awa Odori Festival, Japan’s iconic street dance + plus a whimsical Ghibli-style café detour in Shimokitazawa.

0:00 Awa Odori & Ghibli Café Vlog Intro
0:34 Studio Ghibli Café – Shimokitazawa
1:25 Taiyaki & Monaka Ice Cream
1:58 Awa Odori Warm-Up & Prep
2:36 Dance Formation & Parade Flow
3:01 Yattoko Ren – Shimokitazawa
4:52 Koganei Sakura Ren Performance
5:33 Tokyo Ebisu Ren – Festival Dance
6:31 Toshusai Ren – Taiko & Flutes
7:30 Takarabune Ren – Tokyo Icons
8:46 Benkei Ren – Otoko Odori Style
10:26 Hifumi Ren – Onna Odori Grace
12:25 Sakura Sakura Ren – Festival Spirit
13:17 Goraku Ren – Rhythmic Showcase
14:34 Meguro Ginza Ren – Local Energy
15:12 Shinobu Ren – Final Highlight

Tokyo’s summer spirit comes alive in this cinematic journey through Shimokitazawa, starting with a cozy Ghibli-style café tucked into a leafy neighborhood, and culminating in the electrifying rhythm of Awa Odori, Japan’s iconic street dance festival.

We begin with a hunt for legendary cream puffs (spoiler: sold out!), discover Totoro cookies, and cool off with nostalgic Monaka ice cream.
But the heart of this vlog beats to the sound of taiko drums and shinobue flutes as dancers perform the spirited choreography of Awa Odori.

🎭 Featuring ren like:
• Takarabune Ren
• Benkei Ren
• Sakura Sakura Ren
• Hifumi Ren
• Goraku Ren
• Shinobu Ren
•Tokyo Ebisu Ren
• Koganei Sakura Ren

📍 Highlights:
Behind-the-scenes Awa Odori warm-ups & parade flow
Festival history, ren profiles, and choreography
Ghibli café charm & Totoro treats
Monaka ice cream in Tokyo heat

🎵 From quiet corners to festival chaos, this is Tokyo in motion.

📌If you enjoyed this journey, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Tokyo adventures!

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/okas.trove/
🎥 Travel and Beyond Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3Iuuh9HH0DdxrIFvAeqafivRFUY3fTiX&si=DJA7q6UraRH_nhCy

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