[Yamagata] Impressed by the bright flower hats! Let's go see the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival!

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held around JR Yamagata Station for three days from August 5th to 7th every year.
With the brightly colored floats of Zao Daigongen in the lead, you can hear cries of ``Yatsusho, makasho!''. The sight of people wearing gorgeous costumes performing a variety of dances while the Hanagasa drums resound loudly is a sight to behold. What exactly is the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, which is counted as one of the four major festivals in Tohoku and attracts a lot of attention, attracting over 1 million people? Let's take a closer look at the attractions and highlights.

Yamagata Hanagasa Festival schedule

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is normally scheduled from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, but merchandise sales begin at 10:00 AM.
Hanagasa, which is the symbol of the Hanagasa Festival, will be on sale at this time, so those who are participating should be sure to purchase one. It's sure to put you in a festive mood. It's also a good idea to stop by the Yamagata Manabi-kan, a tourism and cultural exchange center, where souvenirs are sold and there are exhibits.
There are also stalls, so don't worry if you get hungry.
Along with the main Hanagasa Parade, there is also a corner where you can dance in circles near the finish line until the lead group arrives, and a corner where you can jump in at the end of the parade, so even first-timers can enjoy it.

Types of dances at Yamagata Hanagasa Festival

There are various dances at the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival. Once you understand the meaning of the dance, you can enjoy it even more.

Kunpu Mogami River

This is an elegant and splendid formal Hanagasa dance that is inspired by the refreshing wind crossing the Mogami River and the swaying ears of rice. This is the main part of the Hanagasa dance, so be sure to check it out.

Zao Akimitsu

It is a formal Hanagasa dance that expresses gratitude for the blessings of nature and shows a brave dance, and is sometimes called the Otoko-dori (Otoko-odori) due to its bravery.

Hat spinning type flower hat

This is a dynamic Hanagasa dance from Obanazawa, the birthplace of Hanagasa dance.

creative flower hat

It is a dance in which each Hanagasa Festival participant creates their own unique ideas and expresses their individuality. You can see a different dance every year, so be sure to check it out.

How to participate in the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held about a 10-minute walk from JR Yamagata Station, so it is easily accessible.
If you are wearing festival-appropriate clothing such as a hanagasa or happi hat, you can participate in the hanagasa parade pop-in corner, so if you want to participate, please purchase a hanagasa in advance. If it's a regular type, you can buy it for 2,700 yen. There are no bleachers, all seats are free seats, so you can sit wherever there is available.

summary

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, one of the largest festivals in Yamagata Prefecture, is so colorful that just looking at it will brighten your heart. If you are planning a trip to Tohoku in early August, why not check it out?

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