Written by Hiro, Tokyo Swing Dance Society
Event date: October 18-19, 2025
Summary:
If Lindy Hoppers are attending this event, the following are recommended:
October 18 (Saturday)
The venues where dancing is possible are probably around venue numbers 24, 28, and 29.
For more details: Google spreadsheet including Google Maps
The venues where dancing is possible are probably around venue numbers 24, 28, and 29.
For more details: Google spreadsheet including Google Maps
Free of charge
The following is our current plan for bands to dance to on the 18th.
13:00 Venue 24: Port Nine Jazz Orchestra
14:00 Venue 24: SEO Senior Dream Jazz Orchestra
15:20 Venue 28: Gypsy Vagabonz
16:20 Venue 28: Rojiura No Gettou Dan
Performance schedule for Venue 24 and Venue 28/29
Google Maps of Venue 24 and Venue 28
From Venue 24 to Venue 28, it’s one stop by JR, taking about 9 minutes. Walking the entire way would take over 30 minutes, so taking the JR or a taxi is the best option.
The following is our current plan for bands to dance to on the 18th.
13:00 Venue 24: Port Nine Jazz Orchestra
14:00 Venue 24: SEO Senior Dream Jazz Orchestra
15:20 Venue 28: Gypsy Vagabonz
16:20 Venue 28: Rojiura No Gettou Dan
Performance schedule for Venue 24 and Venue 28/29
Google Maps of Venue 24 and Venue 28
From Venue 24 to Venue 28, it’s one stop by JR, taking about 9 minutes. Walking the entire way would take over 30 minutes, so taking the JR or a taxi is the best option.
October 19 (Sunday)
As of now, we have no plans to go dancing at this event on Sunday.
Free of charge
For us swing dancers, this jazz festival feels like chaotic “chaos.” Twenty-nine free venues are set up in Sumida Ward, with around 300 “various” jazz performances over two days. Most of them are amateur bands, but there are also professional and semi-professional jazz bands looking to make their mark.
Enlarged band list provided by the organizer: Here
Enlarged version of the organizer’s map: Here
Enlarged map of Kinshi Park provided by the organizer: Here
Broadly speaking, the jazz we want is 4-beat jazz and blues, but bands playing that style are a minority at modern jazz festivals. However, with a pool of 300 bands at this festival, there are some that do play 4-beat jazz.
The challenge is whether we can find that small, sparkling gem in the sand on the beach.
This analysis, provided by Hiro from TSDS, may not come with a 100% guarantee, but it offers a far better chance of encountering “danceable” band performances than aimlessly wandering between the 29 venues over these two days.
Personally, I’m thinking of going to the festival on Saturday, the 18th.