Enjoy Tohoku's Summer Festivals to the Fullest! - Complete Guide to Summer Festivals -
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With summer in full swing, thoughts turn to summer festivals..
Due to restrictions on activities and self-restraint imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, most places that have refrained from holding summer festivals in recent years are holding full-scale festivals this year, so there are likely many people looking forward to enjoying a summer festival for the first time in a while
This time, we will introduce information about summer festivals in Tohoku and a complete guide to enjoying them all at once
Tohoku summer festival information
The Tohoku regionhas three major festivals: the Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori Prefecture), the Akita Kanto Festival (Akita Prefecture), and the Sendai Tanabata Festival (Miyagi Prefecture).
The three major festivals mentioned abovedesignated as important intangible folk cultural properties by the Japanese governmentand are very famous throughout Japan.
to the three major festivals mentioned aboveAdding the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)," andadding the Morioka Sansa Dance (Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture)makes the "Five Great Festivals of Tohoku.
However, there are various opinions regarding the four or five major festivals of Tohoku, with some arguing that"Fukushima Waraji Festival (Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture)," "Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival (Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture)," and "Koriyama Uneme Festival (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture)" are missing!Opinions vary by region, so please use the information on the four and five major festivals listed above as reference only.
However,summer festivals in Tohoku are concentrated from late July to early August, I always struggle every year to decide which ones to go to and which ones to see!
First, let us introduce the dates for the Tohoku Summer Festival
In 2023,11 days will pass by in a whirlwind, from the Soma Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Prefecture to the Sendai Tanabata Festival in Miyagi Prefecture.
If the festival itself lasted for several days, it might be easier to fit it into your schedule, butTenku no Fuyajo lasts for two days, while Soma Nomaoi, Koriyama Uneme Festival, Fukushima Waraji Festival, Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, and Sendai Tanabata Festival last for three days.
It looks like it will be a bit of a difficult schedule to see everything quickly
Why Tohoku's summer festivals are concentrated in early August
As indicated above regarding the dates of the summer festivals,from late July to early Augustare concentrated
Have you ever wondered, "Why?"
There are various theories, but it is said thatthe origin of summer festivals was that wind and flood damage and illnesses in the summer were thought to be the work of evil spirits, and people would carry a portable shrine carrying a god through the town to purify it and pray for a bountiful harvest in the autumn.
Because spring is the rice planting season, autumn is the rice harvesting season, and winter brings snow that blocks the area, it's characteristic of the Tohoku region to hold summer festivals at times that aren't affected by farm work or the changing seasons.
Here's the recommended route to complete the summer festival!
To be honest, I think it would be physically difficult to visit everything
but,
This time, we will introduce two routes: Northern Tohoku and Southern Tohoku
North Tohoku Route
July 31st Hachinohe Sansha Festival (Hachinohe, Aomori) → August 1st Morioka Sansa Odori Dance (Morioka, Iwate) → August 2nd Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki, Aomori) → August 3rd The City That Never Sleeps in the Sky (Noshiro, Akita) → August 4th Akita Kanto Festival (Akita, Akita) → August 5th Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori, Aomori)
on July 31stthe Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival.
The festival will take place in Morioka, Hirosaki, Noshiro and Akita, one day at a time, with the final Aomori Nebuta Festival being held on August 5th
You will be going around northern Tohoku in circles, but you will be able to complete all of the summer festivals in the region
However,many of the summer festivals in northern Tohoku this year are being held on weekdays, if you only have weekends off, it seems your only option is to concentrate on visiting the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, the Aomori Nebuta Festival, and the Akita Kanto Festival.
South Tohoku Route
July 29th: Soma Nomaoi (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) → August 3rd: Koriyama Uneme Festival (Koriyama, Fukushima) → August 4th: Fukushima Waraji Festival (Fukushima, Fukushima) → August 5th: Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (Yamagata, Yamagata) → August 6th: Sendai Tanabata Festival (Sendai, Miyagi)
The festivals start with the Soma Nomaoi on July 29th, but in southern Tohoku, there is a gap before the Koriyama Uneme Festival, also held in Fukushima Prefecture, followed by the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival and the Sendai Tanabata Festival.
there are festivals every weekend in southern Tohoku, if you can't take time off during the week, it looks like you'll end up just looking at the Tanabata decorations on Sunday night.
Also, the Sendai Tanabata Festival will have a pre-festival fireworks display in Sendai on August 5th, the day before the main event. So, if you're interested in the fireworks, you could spend the evening of August 5th in Sendai and then→ August 4th Fukushima Waraji Festival→ August 5th Sendai Tanabata Festival → August 7th Yamagata Hanagasa Festivalfollow this itinerary:
It's important to check summer festival information in advance
We have introduced some fairly challenging routes that can be completed, but please use actual information to decide on a route that is not too difficult for you
Summer festivals are outdoor events, andthis year's forecastpredicts even hotter temperatures than usual, soall necessary precautions against heatstrokeplease take
Regarding the record-breaking heavy rain damage that struck Akita Prefecture in July of this year,the Akita Kanto Festival announced on its official website on July 19th that "preparations are proceeding as planned for the event to be held."Please check the official website below frequently until the event takes place.
| Festival | 2023 event period | Official URL |
| Soma Nomaoi (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) | July 29th (Saturday) - July 31st (Monday) | Soma Nomaoi |
| Hachinohe Sansha Festival (Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture) | July 31st (Monday) - August 4th (Friday) | VISIT HACHINOHE |
| Morioka Sansa Dance (Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture) | 8/1 (Tuesday) - 8/4 (Friday) | Morioka Sansa Dance |
| Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture) | 8/1 (Tuesday) - 8/7 (Monday) | Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association |
| Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture) | 8/2 (Wed) - 8/7 (Mon) | Aomori Nebuta Festival |
| The city that never sleeps in the sky (Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture) | August 2nd (Wednesday) - August 3rd (Thursday) | Noshiro Tanabata |
| Akita Kanto Festival (Akita City, Akita Prefecture) | August 3rd (Thursday) - August 6th (Sunday) | Akita Kanto Festival |
| Koriyama Uneme Festival (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture) | August 3rd (Thursday) - August 5th (Saturday) | Koriyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Fukushima Waraji Festival (Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture) | August 4th (Friday) - August 6th (Sunday) | Fukushima Waraji Festival |
| Goshogawara Tachineputa (Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture) | August 4th (Friday) - August 8th (Tuesday) | Goshogawara Tachineputa |
| Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture) | August 5th (Saturday) - August 7th (Monday) | Yamagata Hanagasa Festival |
| Sendai Tanabata Festival (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture) | August 6th (Sunday) - August 8th (Tuesday) | Sendai Tanabata Festival |
summary
We've given you a quick introduction to Tohoku's summer festivals in 2023
Summer in Tohoku is short
Summer festivals are held to help people make the most of the short summer. It may be impossible to enjoy all the summer festivals that are crammed into a short period of time, but wouldn't you like to enjoy as much as you can?
This is the first summer festival in several years, so I hope you all enjoy it
and was born and raised in Miyagi Prefecture.
My favorite food is Hasekura-yaki!
I'm extremely sensitive to the cold, but I love the four seasons of Tohoku and enjoy life while appreciating the food.
I'm raising two boys, born in 2010 and 2014, and I'll be sharing the wonderful aspects of Tohoku.
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