[Iwate Prefecture] Recommended Fall Festivals in the Six Prefectures of Tohoku (Iwate Prefecture Part 2), Autumn Festivals in Iwate with different festivals and different ways to enjoy them depending on the location

Compared to the northern part of Iwate Prefecture, where many festivals feature floats taking to the streets, the autumn festivals in the southern part of the prefecture are rich in individuality.

There is a wide variety of festivals, such as the Sanriku Coast towns holding festivals where mikoshi are carried in the sea, and the inland towns holding festivals where various local performing arts are performed one after another.

When does the "Autumn Festival" start and end?

According to the calendar, the ``Ritshu'' of the 24 solar terms runs from August 7th to the day before the ``Risshu'' of November 7th, and if this is applied to Tohoku, it would be the end of the summer festivals held in various places in early August. It's autumn.

This article introduces festivals held from August 7th to November as ``Autumn Festivals'' according to the calendar.

What is the definition of festival?

The definition of "matsuri" listed on Wikipedia is "the act (ritual) of worshiping the gods, Buddha, and ancestors for the purpose of gratitude, prayer, or solace."

On the other hand, there are ``music festivals'' and ``harvest festivals,'' which are different from the festivals held at shrines and other shrines, which have a long history and tradition, and these events where you can enjoy music and taste are also considered festivals in a broader sense.

Iwate/Sanriku Yamada Festival (Yamada Town, Shimohei District: September 14th to 16th)

Designated as an intangible folk cultural asset by Iwate Prefecture, , Yamada Hachiman Shrine and Osugi Shrine, are held together.The first day is the Yamada Hachiman Shrine Yoimiya Festival, the second day is the shrine's Shinko Festival, and the third day is the Respect for the Aged Festival. The day is the Shinko Festival at Osugi Shrine.

On the first and second days, the large mikoshi from Hachimangu Shrine is paraded bravely through Yamada town as the `` Rage Mikoshi, '' and performances of Hachiman Taikagura, Hachiman Shikamai, and Yamada Sakaida Toramai are offered, and at the Osugi Shrine Shinko Festival, the mikoshi is carried over the sea. I will.

Osugi Shrine, which was washed away by the tsunami of the Great Earthquake and has been rebuilt.

Amba-sama the god of fishing , is enshrined, the biggest highlight of the festival is the `` Oshigori '' (transportation) of the Osugi Shrine mikoshi over the sea, which attracts men. A mikoshi carried by the people crosses the sea.

Osugi Shrine, which was located in a low-lying area, was washed away by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, leaving only the torii gate behind, but in 2014 the shrine building was rebuilt and the mikoshi was restored, and sea crossings are once again being carried out. .

Autumn Festival in Yamada where you can enjoy local performing arts

During the festival, a special stage will be set up in the park in front of Rikuchu Yamada Station, where local performing arts and dance groups from both within and outside the town will participate and show off the results of their daily practice.

In between, the mikoshi from Yamada Hachimangu Shrine and Osugi Shrine stop by, and a fair is held with many stalls surrounding the stage, making the area in front of the station lively.

Iwate/Sanriku Yamada Festival <Information>

• Name: Iwate/Sanriku Yamada Festival (Yamada Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival, Osugi Shrine Annual Festival)
• Event period: 3 days starting two days before Respect for the Aged Day in September every year, from Saturday, September 14th to September 16th (Monday, Respect for the Aged Day) in 2024
• Venue: Center of Yamada Town
• Contact: Yamada Town Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0193-65-7901
• URL: Yamada Town Tourism Association Official Website

“Yamada no Kaki-kun” where you can enjoy Yamada oysters anytime

Yamada is famous for its `` oyster hut '' where you can eat all-you-can-eat steamed oysters, but unfortunately, they are only open from November to the end of May, so you won't be able to enjoy them at the Yamada Festival.

For those who want to taste Yamada oysters, we recommend " Yamada no Kaki-kun ."

The smoked oysters are marinated in olive oil and go well with white wine, sake, and shochu.

Yamada's Oyster-kun <Information>

• URL: Yamada no Kakikun Co., Ltd. official website

Oshu Mizusawa Industrial Festival/Oshu Autumn Festival (Mizusawa, Oshu City: September 14th to 15th)

In the hometown of Major Leaguer Shohei Otani, which is currently a hot topic, the Oshu Mizusawa Summer Festival which , has become the Oshu Autumn Festival three festivals will be held jointly, including the Yosakoi festival . is.

The main venue is Ekimae-dori near JR Mizusawa Station, and a pedestrian paradise will be set up during the day on both days, where many local products, food, and gourmet stalls will be lined up, and local performing arts will be performed.

A festival of various genres of entertainment

Performances include local deer dance and onikenbai groups

In addition to these, there is a custom called Yakutenren/Nengisuriren, in which young people (middle-aged and elderly) of the age of evil in the Irie region

25-year-olds and 42-year-olds from bad years gather to participate in festivals in the Ile River region and liven up the festival with simple dances.In recent years, they seem to have been spending a lot of time practicing, and their performances are as spectacular as any other group. A dance will be performed.

“Oshu YOSAKOI in Mizusawa” will liven up the festival

As part of the Oshu Autumn Festival, it will be held on the 15th at five venues centered around Mizusawa Eki-dori, with 59 teams from all over the country participating and competing.

In addition to the ``team dance'' held at Yosakoi festivals across the country, there is a ``soodori'' dance in which the audience can participate, and this year in Oshu, a ``matsuribito'' dance song will be created and performed. It's planned.

Oshu Mizusawa Industrial Festival/Oshu Autumn Festival <Information>

• Name: Oshu Mizusawa Industrial Festival/Oshu Autumn Festival (Oshu YOSAKOI in Mizusawa)
• Event period: September 14th (Saturday) to September 15th (Sunday), 2024
• Venue: Around JR Mizusawa Station Street
• Contact: Oshu City Mizusawa Industrial Festival Executive Committee (Oshu City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department, Commercial Tourism Division)
• Phone number: Phone 0197-34-1760
• URL: Oshu City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department Commercial Tourism Division Official Website
• Oshu Autumn Festival inquiries: Oshu Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
• Phone number: 0197-24-3141

Mizusawa's soul food is "Kirinpan"

Kirinpan `Bread Kobo Maruki '' in Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City is a snack-like sweet bread that has been a long-seller since its release in 1980, and has long been loved as a local soul food.

It's a fluffy, soft bread measuring 34cm long, filled with whipped cream, chocolate cream, etc., and sold in a plastic bag with a cute illustration of a giraffe on it.

Kirinpan <Information>

• Store name: Bakery Maruki
• Location: 92-7 Mizusawa Dokida, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0197-24-6628
• Business hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 19:00
• Closed: Sunday
• URL: Bread Studio Maruki official instagram

Google Map

Japan's Hometown Tono Festival (Tono City: September 21st to 22nd)

Kunio Yanagita's `` Tono Monogatari '' and famous for kappa and zashiki warashi, and is the annual festival of Tonogo Hachimangu Shrine

On the first day, there will be a `` Local Performing Arts Parade '' and `` Shishi Odori Group Dance Tono Nanbu Yabusame' ' will be held at the Baba in the grounds of Hachimangu Shrine. ” is powerful and overwhelming.

In addition, after the Yabusame horse racing, there is a joint performance of local performing arts and kagura called `` Baba Meguri '' at the horse field, and you can enjoy the performance in the greenery, which is a little different from the performances held in the city.

Tono Festival where you can enjoy a variety of local performing arts

There are a wide variety of dances, including Sansa dance, Shishi dance, Kagura, Dai Kagura, Nanbu Bayashi, Hand dance, Rice planting dance, Tiger dance, Jinku dance, Peasant dance, and

There are more than 60 local performing arts organizations around Tono that continue to pass on these traditional performing arts, and many citizens participate in them, practice daily, and show off their achievements at the Tono Festival. It is.

Southern Tono Yabusame performed as a local entertainment

Nanbu Yabusame began in 1661 (1661) when Nanbu Naoe of Hachinohe, who had moved to another country, built a riding field at Tonogo Hachiman Shrine.

It is a valuable yabusame horse that preserves the unique manners of the Nanbu domain, and is a designated cultural property of Tono City.

Japan's hometown Tono Festival <Information>

• Name: Japan's Hometown Tono Festival
• Event period: 3rd Saturday to 3rd Sunday in September every year, September 21st (Saturday) to September 22nd (Sunday) in 2024
• Venue: September 21st, Tono City Venue, September 22nd, Tonogo Hachiman Shrine
• Contact: Tono Festival Executive Committee (Tono City Tourism Exchange Division)
• Phone number: 0198-62-2111
• URL: Tono City official website

Will it become Tono's new specialty? "Zashikiwarashi soft serve ice cream"

mild azuki bean-flavored ` Zashikiwarashi soft serve'', a specialty of ``Kappa no Chaya near Kappa-buchi, where kappa can be caught using cucumber bait, is slowly gaining popularity.

The red cone that wraps the red bean soft serve is as cute as a straw kimono, and the soft serve not only tastes great but also looks fun.

Azuki beans are said to be Zashikiwarashi's favorite food, so if you eat them, Zashikiwarashi may appear.

Zashikiwarashi soft serve ice cream <Information>

• Store name: Kappa no Chaya
• Location: 7-46 Tsuchibuchi, Tsuchibuchi, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0198-62-3777
• Business hours: Thursday-Monday 10:00-16:00
• Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
• URL: Kappa no Chaya Official Facebook

Google Map

summary

In addition to the ones introduced in this article, in southern Iwate Prefecture, there are other grand autumn festivals held especially in municipalities along the Sanriku coast, such as Miyako Autumn Festival and Kamaishi City's Kamaishi Festival

We cannot introduce them all here, but each festival is unique and worth seeing.

Why not visit once and enjoy the seafood and festivals of Sanriku?