3 great spring festivals to check out in Japan’s Tohoku region

Omagari Fireworks (Photo courtesy of Omagari Fireworks Executive Committee)

After a long winter, Japan’s Tohoku region is finally enjoying the arrival of spring with vivid colors of sakura, peach, plum and azalea blossoms.

The return of the blooms and spring weather means it is once again time to get out and enjoy the seasonal festivals!

On April 27, Omagari District in Akita Prefecture will kick off the festivals with its Omagari no Hanabi fireworks celebration. The event will have a display of no less than 8,000 fireworks to light up the spring night sky. The city is famous for its fireworks and this 90-minute display is the first of the year, so don’t worry if you can’t make this one.

Omagari Fireworks (Photo courtesy of Omagari Fireworks Executive Committee)

Another festival to add to your list is Sendai City’s Sendai Aoba Matsuri on May 18 and 19. Since 1655, the festival has been known as one of the three largest in Sendai City. Expect around 4,000 dancers to perform a traditional Suzume Odori (sparrow dance) in the city center and an impressive procession of armored samurai accompanied by mikoshi and mounts through Sendai’s streets.

Sendai Aoba Matsuri (Photo courtesy of City of Sendai)

A week later, Soma Nomaoi in Fukushima Prefecture’s Soma area will run from May 25 to 27. Here 400 samurai cavaliers in traditional attire will descend on horseback. The traditional ambiance will be like stepping into an ancient picture scroll. Local legend says the festival began more than 1,000 years ago when Lord Taira Masakado conducted a military exercise in the area.