Festivals In Tohoku region, Japan

The Festivals of Tohoku 窶蚤 Fusion of Tradition, Dynamism and Elegance

Summer in Tohoku means time for traditional festivals and fireworks displays and among the most fabulous is the Aomori Nebuta Festival. Cherry blossom festivals are held in the spring and the Namahage and Enburi Festivals are held in the winter. The various festivals held throughout the year provide anticipation and excitement to people living in different areas.

Moving images : NTT East - Miyagi "BB e-TOHOKU" (link attached)

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Aomori Nebuta Festival
(Aug. 2-7)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival attracts over three million visitors every year from Japan and around the world. The illuminated floats light up the night sky and the earth shakes with the energy from the lively music and shouts of the haneto dancers.

Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival
(Aug. 3-8)
The Tachineputa floats rise up to 22 meters in height and weigh 17 tons. The parade of gorgeous floats makes its way through the town accompanied by cries of "Yattemare! Yattemare!" and captivating spectators with their dynamism and grace.

Hachinohe Enburi Festival
(Feb. 17 -20)
This traditional festival of the Hachinohe region is considered one of the five greatest snow festivals of Tohoku. The enburi dance is performed to pray for a good harvest and the movements imitate the motions made in harvesting rice or planting it.

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
(Aug. 1-4)
Over 30,000 dancers dressed in colorful yukata dance along the main streets of Morioka and fill the night with color and sound.

Iwate Snow Festival
(early to mid-Feb.)
One of the five largest snow festivals in the Tohoku region, this event is held at the Koiwai Farm. In addition to snow sculptures, the lovely nighttime illumination, fireworks displays and other events attract some 30,000 visitors every year.

All-Japan Wanko Soba-eating Contest
(Feb. 11)
This soba-eating event is a competition to determine who can eat the most bowls of soba noodles in five minutes. In 2006, the winner ate a record 241 bowls! The title of yokozuna is bestowed on the winner.

Akita Kanto Festival
(held from Aug. 3-6)
As the city is filled with excitement and energy from the Kanto Festival, skilled performers balance bamboo poles of lanterns on their heads, shoulders and hips. At the Children's Kanto event, children show their dexterity at balancing the lanterns, their skill equal to that of the adults.

Kamakura Festival
(Feb. 15, 16)
Held in Yokote, Akita's Kamakura Festival is 400 years old. During the festival, approximately 100 kamakura snow huts and countless mini kamakura are installed throughout the town.

Omagari National Fireworks Competition
(4th Sat. in Aug.)
One of the three greatest fireworks displays in Japan, this fireworks competition boasts the ultimate in tradition and technique. First-class pyrotechnicians from around Japan gather to show off their skills and put on a fabulous show.

Hatsuuma Festival Hibuse no tora mai (tiger dance)
(Apr. 29)
This tiger dance originated in the Muromachi Period for the purpose of using the power of the tiger to prevent fires by stilling the wind. Tigers parade through the town in colorful costumes and dance to the rhythm of the music. This event has been designated a prefectural "folk cultural property".

Shiogama Port Festival
(3rd Mon. and the previous day in Jul.)
This is one of the three greatest port festivals in Japan. Two ships carrying portable shrines from the Shiwahiko and Shiogama Shrines cruise around Matsushima Bay and are followed by 100 escort ships. The sight of men running down 202 steps of the shrine carrying a portable shrine weighing a ton is incredible.

Matsushima Toro-nagashi (Lantern Floating) Fireworks Festival
(Aug. 17)
Some 8,000 fireworks light up the sky over Matsushima as countless lanterns float out on the bay. You can sit at one of the reserved seats to watch the spectacular fireworks (fee charged).

Sendai Aoba Festival
(3rd Sun. and the previous in May.)
The Sendai Aoba Festival is one of the largest annual events in Sendai. A parade winds through the downtown area headed by the Mikoshitogyo (portable shrine) of Aoba Shrine and followed by a procession of samurai warriors, suzume odori (sparrow dance) dancers and magnificent floats. The lively music and movements of the suzume odori bring an air of excitement to the festival and the "City of Trees".

Sendai Tanabata Festival
(Aug. 6-8)
One of the major events of summer, the Sendai Tanabata Festival is symbolized by elaborate decorations attached to bamboo poles. Some 1500 streamers and ornaments line the arcaded shopping areas of Sendai and they are a wonderful sight to behold. In the evening, the "Hoshi no Koyoi Matsuri" (Star Festival) offers live stage performances. The fabulous Tanabata Fireworks Display held the night before the festival attracts many visitors.

Sendai Pageant of Starlight
(Dec. 12 -31)
Volunteers began this event in 1986 and it has grown to become one of the most popular winter events in Japan. The zelkova trees along Jozenji-dori and Aoba-dori Avenues are illuminated with thousands of lights and create a fantasy world of light.

Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
(Aug. 5-7)
Wearing brightly colored outfits, some 10,000 dancers parade down the streets dancing to the sounds of the Hanagasa Ondo shouting "Yassho, makasho" and charming the spectators.

Yonezawa Uesugi Festival
(Apr. 29 -May 3)
This annual festival is held at the beginning of spring at Uesugi Shrine and Matsugasaki Shrine. Events include a procession of Uesugi clan warriors and a reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima between the armies of the Uesugi clan and the Takeda clans.

Zao Juhyo Festival
(late Jan. -early Feb.)
The juhyo snow monsters are lit up at night and visitors can view this fantasyland while riding on the ropeway.

Aizu Autumn Festival
(Sept. 22 -24)
The Aizu Bandaisan Odori, a traditional folk song, starts off this festival where a thousand people march carrying lanterns. Also featured is a procession of citizens dressed in historic costumes of the Aizu han. They include brave warriors, beautiful princesses and Byakkotai (footmen of olden times) dressed in unique outfits.

Uneme Festival
(1st Fri., Sat., and Sun. in Aug.)
This festival is based on the legend of Uneme which describes the tragic love story between an emperor and Haruhime, his lady-in-waiting, during the Nara Period. Some 6000 dancers dressed in costumes of the period perform over a period of two days.

Soma Nomaoi Festival
(Jul. 23 -25)
With a history of over a thousand years, this festival began as a training exercise in martial arts and is now the largest horse festival in the world. Riders wear traditional harnesses and gallop in a circular route over 1000 meters and entertain spectators with their power and vitality.

Takada Castle Hyakumannin Kanokai
(Cherry Blossom Festival) (early-mid Apr.)
The Sanjuyagura (three-tiered turret) at Takada Castle is lit up at night and 3000 lanterns shine on the somei-yoshino cherry blossoms, giving it an ethereal air. Known as one of the three most beautiful "night-viewing cherry blossom" spots in Japan, it attracts nearly a million visitors every year.

Nagaoka Festival
(Aug. 1-3)
One of the three biggest fireworks festivals in Japan, the Nagaoka Festival is held along the mighty Shinano River. Some 20,000 fireworks light up the night sky, including the Sanjakudama, a large type of fireworks with a diameter of 650 meters when it bursts.

Sado Earth Celebration
(3rd Fri. -Sun. in Aug)
This international music festival is sponsored by the Japanese drum group Kodo. With Ogi as their base, they use natural formations as their outdoor studio. The group invites musicians and performers they have met on their travels to come to Sado to perform. During the three-day period of this event, the island is filled with workshops and open-air markets, giving it a vibrant international flavor.
Supported by: Earth Celebration