The Tohoku region, consisting of Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures, is home to some of Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals. Here are 20 must-visit summer festivals in Tohoku that you should check out this summer.
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Must-Visit Summer Festivals in Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of the three great festivals of Tohoku. It features massive illuminated floats called "Nebuta," depicting warrior figures and characters from mythology, parading through the streets. At night, these brightly lit Nebuta floats move forward to the energetic beats of festival music, while dancers known as "Haneto" jump and dance to the rhythmic chant of "Rassera!" The sheer size and impact of the Nebuta, combined with the energy of the participants, make this festival truly special. The grand finale on the last day includes a spectacular fireworks display and a floating Nebuta parade on the water. With over two million visitors each year, it is one of Japan's most renowned summer festivals.
Location: Central Aomori City (Around JR Aomori Station)
- Typical Event Dates: August 2 - 7
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Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki City)
The highlight of this festival is the "Neputa," fan-shaped illuminated floats adorned with warrior paintings. These Neputa floats are paraded through the historic castle town of Hirosaki to the rhythmic chant of "Yayado!" Unlike the three-dimensional designs of Aomori Nebuta, Hirosaki Neputa has a distinctive, elongated shape resembling picture scrolls. The reverse side of the floats often features elegant paintings of beautiful women, creating a striking contrast between the powerful warrior illustrations and the graceful artwork.
- Location: Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture (Dote-machi Course, Station Course)
- Typical Event Dates: August 1 - 7
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Goshogawara Tachineputa (Goshogawara City)
This festival is known for its towering "Tachineputa" floats, which reach up to 23 meters in height and weigh around 19 tons. Once lost to history, the festival was revived in 1998 and has since become one of Aomori’s top tourist attractions. The sight of these skyscraper-sized Neputa moving through the streets is breathtaking, leaving spectators in awe. Accompanied by lively festival music and chants, the swaying motion of these massive floats creates an unforgettable, mystical atmosphere.
- Location: Central Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture
- Typical Event Dates: August 4 - 8
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Hachinohe Sansha Taisai (Hachinohe City)
This festival boasts over 300 years of history and features a procession of 27 elaborately decorated festival floats through the streets of Hachinohe. Each float is meticulously crafted, depicting warrior scenes and mythical stories, with many incorporating intricate mechanical animations. The festival also includes a grand mikoshi (portable shrine) parade, vibrant festival music, and powerful performances, filling the entire event with an energetic atmosphere. Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, it is a cherished tradition passed down through generations. At night, the beautifully illuminated floats create a mesmerizing spectacle that captivates all who watch.
- Location: Downtown Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture
- Typical Event Dates: July 31 - August 4
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Must-Visit Summer Festivals in Iwate Prefecture
Morioka Sansa Odori (Morioka City)
Morioka Sansa Odori is Iwate’s most famous summer festival and holds the record for the world's largest taiko drum parade. Dancers dressed in colorful traditional attire perform elegant and dynamic steps to the energetic chant of "Sakkora Choiwayasse!" With over 10,000 performers dancing in unison, the sight is truly overwhelming. The rhythmic drumming adds to the excitement, filling the festival with electrifying energy. Toward the end of the festival, tourists can also join in and dance, making it a fun and immersive experience for everyone. This is one of Tohoku’s liveliest dance festivals.
- Location: Chuo-dori, Morioka City (Between Iwate Prefectural Public Hall and Eigakan-dori)
- Typical Event Dates: August 1 - 4
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Kitakami Michinoku Performing Arts Festival (Kitakami City)
This festival gathers traditional performing arts from across Iwate Prefecture and beyond. Spectators can witness historic performances such as "Shishi Odori" (Deer Dance) and "Onikenbai" (Demon Sword Dance), offering an up-close experience of Japan’s rich cultural heritage. The festival also features a fireworks display at night, adding a magical touch to the event. Food stalls serving local delicacies make it an excellent opportunity to savor the flavors of Iwate. Bringing together people passionate about folk performing arts, this festival is a cultural treasure that has been passed down for generations.
- Location: Various venues around JR Kitakami Station, including Omatsuri Hiroba
- Typical Event Dates: The first Friday to Sunday of August
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Morioka Funekko Nagashi (Morioka City)
Held during the Obon season, this festival is a traditional ceremony to honor ancestors and pray for bountiful catches and good health. Small wooden boats, lit with lanterns, are set afloat on the river, creating a solemn yet breathtaking atmosphere. As the boats drift along, fireworks are launched, illuminating the night sky and reflecting on the water, crafting a dreamlike scene. While it lacks the exuberance of larger festivals, its quiet beauty and deep spiritual significance make it a cherished event for many.
- Location: Right bank of Meiji Bridge, Kitakami River, Morioka City
- Typical Event Date: August 16
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Must-Visit Summer Festivals in Akita Prefecture
Akita Kanto Festival (Akita City)
This festival is a traditional event praying for a bountiful harvest, where performers showcase their incredible skills by balancing massive "Kanto" poles—measuring up to 12 meters tall and weighing over 50 kg—on their shoulders, foreheads, and lower backs. These poles are adorned with numerous lanterns, resembling ears of rice swaying in the wind, beautifully lighting up the night sky. The crowd erupts in cheers with each impressive display of skill, heightening the festival’s excitement. During the daytime, visitors can try holding a Kanto pole themselves at special experience corners. As one of Tohoku’s three great festivals, it draws countless visitors each year.
- Location: Kanto Odori, Central Akita City
- Typical Event Dates: August 3 - 6
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Nishimonai Bon Odori (Ugo Town)
Nishimonai Bon Odori is one of Japan’s three great Bon Odori festivals. The dancers wear distinctive costumes, including woven hats pulled low over their faces and black hooded veils called "Hikosa Zukin." It is said that these costumes allow the spirits of the deceased to join the dance, creating an air of mystery. The rhythmic beat of taiko drums, the melancholic melodies of shamisen, and the haunting festival music transport spectators to another world. As the lanterns cast a gentle glow over the procession, the slow, elegant movements of the dancers make it feel as if one is witnessing a scene from a dreamlike, ethereal realm.
- Location: Nishimonai Honmachi Street
- Typical Event Dates: August 16 - 18
Hanawa Bayashi (Kazuno City)
Hanawa Bayashi is a traditional festival designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset and also recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ten elaborately decorated festival floats (yatai) parade through the night, accompanied by a powerful and lively festival music ensemble. A highlight of the festival is when these massive floats maneuver through narrow streets, sometimes clashing in intense showdowns, cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd. The booming taiko drums and lively flute melodies create an electrifying atmosphere, bringing the entire town to life.
- Location: In front of JR Kazuno-Hanawa Station
- Typical Event Dates: August 19 - 20
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Omagari Fireworks Festival (Daisen City)
Omagari Fireworks Festival is Japan’s premier fireworks competition, where top pyrotechnicians from across the country compete to showcase their best works. The event features a variety of fireworks, including daytime fireworks, creative fireworks, and breathtaking nighttime displays. The grand finale, the "Tournament-Sponsored Fireworks," is a truly awe-inspiring spectacle, filling the sky with dazzling colors and light. As this is a highly prestigious event, reserved seating is required for optimal viewing.
- Location: "Omagari no Hanabi" Park
- Typical Event Date: Last Saturday of August
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Must-Visit Summer Festivals in Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (Yamagata City)
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is a vibrant parade featuring dancers waving red safflower-patterned hats while chanting the lively call of "Yassho, Makasho!" The festival features two distinct dance styles: the powerful and dynamic "men’s dance" and the graceful, flowing "women’s dance." Local organizations, businesses, and even celebrities participate in the parade, making it a festival that fosters a strong sense of unity. Visitors are also welcome to join the procession, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere.
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Akagawa Fireworks Festival (Tsuruoka City)
The Akagawa Fireworks Festival is one of Japan’s premier fireworks competitions, attracting top pyrotechnicians from across the country to showcase their craftsmanship. The viewing area is remarkably close to the launch site, allowing spectators to experience the breathtaking power of the fireworks up close. Synchronized performances set to music and dazzling starmine fireworks light up the night sky, mesmerizing the audience. The festival takes place along a vast riverside area, providing a spacious and comfortable setting for visitors to enjoy the show.
- Location: Akagawa Riverside
- Typical Event Date: 3rd Saturday of August
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Shinjo Festival (Shinjo City)
With a history spanning over 260 years, Shinjo Festival is a traditional celebration recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival's highlight is the magnificent float procession, where each neighborhood presents elaborately decorated floats inspired by kabuki and historical dramas. These artistic creations are intricately crafted down to the finest details, captivating onlookers with their beauty. During the daytime, visitors can enjoy float exhibitions and shrine processions, while at night, the illuminated floats create a magical spectacle.
- Location: Central Shinjo City (Around JR Shinjo Station)
- Typical Event Dates: August 24 - 26
Must-Visit Summer Festivals in Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai Tanabata Festival (Sendai City)
The Sendai Tanabata Festival is one of Japan’s three great Tanabata celebrations, transforming the city into a vibrant display of colorful decorations. Streamers in various hues sway gracefully from bamboo poles, creating an enchanting atmosphere as visitors stroll through the shopping arcades. Each decoration carries heartfelt wishes and is meticulously handcrafted by local artisans. The festival also features traditional performances, and on August 5, a spectacular fireworks display illuminates the night sky, adding to the festive spirit.
- Location: Shopping Arcades Around JR Sendai Station
- Typical Event Dates: August 6 - 8 (Fireworks on August 5)
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Shiogama Minato Festival (Shiogama City)
As one of Japan’s three major maritime festivals, the Shiogama Minato Festival is a grand event held to pray for maritime safety and a bountiful catch. A sacred mikoshi (portable shrine) from Shiogama Shrine is placed on a special vessel and paraded through Matsushima Bay, accompanied by a fleet of boats in a stunning procession. Onshore, festivalgoers can enjoy taiko drum performances, traditional dances, and lively festivities. The festival’s eve is marked by a breathtaking fireworks display of around 8,000 fireworks, casting shimmering reflections across the sea for a truly mesmerizing spectacle.
- Location: Shiogama City & Matsushima Bay
- Typical Event Date: 3rd Monday of July (Marine Day)
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Masamune Festival (Osaki City, Iwadeyama)
The Masamune Festival honors Date Masamune, a legendary samurai warlord who ruled the Sendai domain during Japan’s Warring States period. The festival’s highlight is the grand samurai procession, where participants don armor and march through the streets, recreating the atmosphere of the Sengoku era. Locals dress as warriors and princesses, turning the town into a historical spectacle, making visitors feel as if they’ve traveled back in time.
- Location: Around JR Iwadeyama Station
- Typical Event Dates: 2nd Saturday & Sunday of September
Recommended summer festivals to go to in Fukushima Prefecture
Ouchi-juku Hange Festival (Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District)
The Ouchi-juku Hange Festival is a traditional event held in the historic post town of Ouchi-juku, where rituals are performed to pray for fire prevention and a bountiful harvest. The festival’s highlight is a solemn procession of locals dressed in white garments, walking through the town’s thatched-roof streets, creating a serene and atmospheric scene reminiscent of the Edo period.
- Location: Ouchi-juku, Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture
- Typical Event Date: July 2
Soma Nomaoi (Soma & Minamisoma Cities)
With over 1,000 years of history, the Soma Nomaoi is a spectacular festival featuring armored horseback warriors reenacting ancient battlefield scenes. The most thrilling event is the "Divine Flag Competition," where mounted samurai race to capture sacred flags dropped from the sky, replicating a historical military exercise. The three-day festival includes a departure ceremony, the main cavalry parade, and the "Nomakake" ritual, where wild horses are captured and offered to the shrine. The event is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
- Location: Hibarigahara Festival Grounds (206-1 Ushikui, Haramachi-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture)
- Typical Event Dates: Last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of July
Fukushima Waraji Festival (Fukushima City)
The Fukushima Waraji Festival is a unique celebration featuring a gigantic straw sandal, measuring 12 meters in length and weighing 2 tons, paraded through the streets. The enormous waraji symbolizes prayers for strong legs, good health, and good fortune. The festival is filled with energy as participants carry the massive sandal in rhythm with the lively beat of taiko drums. Visitors can also join the parade by signing up on the event day.
- Location: Around JR Fukushima Station
- Typical Event Dates: 1st Friday & Saturday of August
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