Introduction
Fetivals are normally held at the arrival of spring or autumn harvest joy, but in Tohoku district they are held in short summer with explosive energy, sometimes held in winter with taking advantage of the deep snow.
Around the world there are a lot of historical and religious festivals, in which I like the Ommegang in Brussels, the Giant festival in Ath and the carnaval de Binche. On the otherside, explosive energy make the festival coloful and spiritual in Tohoku.
Itinerary is not included but super local information to be used for making plans is found. Please refer to your itinerary from each blogs of festival .
Detail
June 2nd Saturday Chagu-ChaguｰUmakko (Iwate Prefecture)
Parade from countryside(Takizawa village) to Morioka city of horses dressing up which are nurtured with care in each house
*)It takes almost half day on foot when you follow the parade, so it is a good idea to stay ahead of the curve using trains.
July 31th- August 4th Hachinohe-Sansha Festival (Aomori Prefecture)**
The mechanism that the stage stand out from the decorated float is amaizing. A polo-like competition is bravely held at the shrine.
*)Parade of decorated floats are held during 3 days and you can watch and enjoy at downtown. If you are fun to watch NHK new year’s eve red-and-white singing contest program, the mechanism could remind you of the famous singer, Sachiko Kobayashi.
August 3rd-6th Kanto Festival (Akita Prefecture)**
Akita is a rice-produching region. Kanto lanterns shining in the night sky represent a bountiful harvest.
*)During the daytime, they hold competition to compete in techniques to support the Kanto in various positions(one hand, forehead, sholder, waist !). Even at night, you should look down, not up.
August 1st-4th Sansa Dancing Festival (Iwate Prefecture)**
Women play the leading role s in dance and Taiko drumming. You can feel the influence from Korea in the clothes.
*)Let’s go out early and participate in a free dance class. In Sansa Festival the beginners welcome to the circle of dancing.
**)These festivals including Nebuta in Aomori city are held at the almost same period, so you can enjoy various festival every day. But be careful to make reservation of hotels in ultra-advance.
August 5th-7th Hanagasa Dancing Festival (Yamagata Prefecture)
Many teams that make up the parade show off their unique dances from in traditional and elegant style to in brave and dynamic style. In contrast to folk music, the force of moving the hanagasa hats violently cannot be conveyed unless you come to the site.
*)It is held on the long main street at night. No need to keep a viewing spot in advance.
August 6th-8th Tanabata Decoration Festival (Miyagi Prefecture)
When you look at the Tanabata decorations in the shopping district, they all look the same(sorry), but when you learn that each shop displays their own decorations in front of each shop, your perspective changes. The results of contest are indicated unobtrusively beside each decoration.
August 24th-26th Shinjoh Festival (Yamagata Prefecture)
The parade are composed of many decoration floats. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
*)It is held on the long main street at night. No need to keep a viewing spot in advance.
August last Saturday Ohmagari Fireworks Festival (Akita Prefecture)
One of the best tree fireworks festival in Japan. Daytime fireworks are unique. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
*)Be careful of car parking area and late check-in in advance.
September mid Tono Festival (Iwate Prefecture)
All of the people in Tono city must participate the parade composed of various styles. Tradition lives on in the festival. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
4 Sundays per year (May, June, August, October) Bullfight Festival (Iwate Prefecture)
Japanese style of bullfight is completely different from Spanish one. It’s a fight between bulls and like Japanese wrestling ‘SUMO’ with a table of ranking. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
Febrary 2nd weekend Namahage Festival (Akita Prefecture)
This is a real festival to participate in during cold winter. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
Febrary 10th Craft Balloon Festival (Akita Prefecture)
Tourists can participate releasing balloon warmed by fire. Please refer to the blog which had been already posted.
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