Summer Festivals in Fukushima 2019【Schedules and Details】Spectacular Annual Events of Japan

Thrilling Japanese Summer Festivals with Traditional Music and Dance Parade

Experience the excitement of dynamic summer events and vibrant cultural celebrations!

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Festivals List

※Click each title for details.

JULY 7 (SUN) – 8 (MON)
Kishimo Sonshin Reitaisai － Haha to Kodomo no Shugo Taisai (Koriyama City)

JULY 14 (SAT)
Kiuri Tennō-sai (Sukagawa City)

JULY 22 (MON) – 24 (WED)
Aizu Tajima Gion-sai (Minami Aizu Machi)

JULY 24 (WED) – 28 (SUN)
Summer Festa IN KORIYAMA 2019 Beer Matsuri (Koriyama City)

JULY 27 (SAT) – 28 (SUN)
Bandai Matsuri (Inawashiro Machi)

JULY 28 (SUN)
Miharu no Sato Natsu Matsuri 2019 (Miharu Machi)

JULY 27 (SAT), 28 (SUN), 29 (MON)
Soma Nomaoi

AUG 1 (THU) – 3 (SAT)
Koriyama Uneme Matsuri (Koriyama City)

AUG 2 (FRI) – 4 (SUN)
Fukushima Waraji Matsuri (Fukushima City)

AUG 14 (WED)
Karariko Festa 2019 (Kawamata Machi)

AUG 25 (SUN)
Datena Taiko Matsuri (Date City)

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Kishimo Sonshin Reitaisai

(Annual Festival of the Guardian Deity for Mothers and Children – Koriyama City)

Koriyama’s summer festival season kicks off with Kishimo Sonshin Reitaisai, held every year on July 7–8.

The festival features:

• Food stands lining the temple approach

• Energetic performances by people affiliated with the host temple, Hōgen-ji

• A celebration dedicated to the guardian deity of mothers and children

Date & Time: Sunday, July 7 – Monday, July 8 | 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The festival will be held rain or shine.

Venue: Hogenji Temple

Join the lively festival atmosphere and celebrate this important cultural tradition at Hōgen-ji!

Location: Hōgen-ji Temple

Contact
Hōgen-ji
Phone: +81 24-932-7634
1-22-3 Sakuta, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Kiuri Tennō-sai [Cucumber Buddhist Deity Festival] – Sukagawa City
Date: Sunday, July 14

The festival will be held rain or shine.

At this unique festival, participants can pray for a year of good health by offering two cucumbers, receiving a cucumber in place of a traditional charm, and eating it. Cucumber is a local specialty of Sukagawa City.

 

Location: Taimatsu-dōri, Sukagawa City

【Contact】
Sukagawa Tourism Exchange Division
Tel: 0248-88-9144

Aizu Tajima Gion-sai – Minami Aizu Town
Dates & Times:

• July 22 (Mon): 11:45 AM – 10:30 PM

• July 23 (Tue): 7:50 AM – 10:30 PM

• July 24 (Wed): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

This festival is held annually on July 22–24.

With a history of over 800 years, Aizu Tajima Gion-sai is considered one of Japan’s three major Gion festivals, alongside the famous Kyoto Gion Matsuri. It is also known as Doburoku Matsuri or Fuki Matsuri, and has been carefully preserved through a unique regional group system called Otouya Seido.

Currently, there are nine regional groups, called Otouya-gumi, which take turns organizing the festival each year. When it is a group’s turn (once every ten years), the previous year’s group, known as the Watashi (transferrer), and the following group, called the Uketori (transferee), assist in carrying out the rituals. These three groups spend an entire year preparing for the festival, completing a series of important rituals and arrangements.

Thanks to the community’s dedication to preserving this traditional folk culture, the festival was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset in 1981 (Showa 56).

Highlights

• Kodomo Kabuki (Children’s Classical Play): Performed with great enthusiasm on the evenings of July 22 and 23, this traditional play is a festival favorite.

• Kenka Yatai (Fighting Floats): Witness the exciting spectacle parade featuring four massive floats that “battle” each other in a lively display.

• Nana Hokai Gyōretsu (Seven Ritual Containers Procession): On the early morning of July 23, about 30 unmarried women dressed in traditional wedding attire lead this solemn procession. Also called the Hanayome Gyōretsu (Brides’ Procession), it draws large crowds of spectators and photographers eager to capture the ceremony.

Aizu Tajima Gion-sai is truly a spectacular festival that combines tradition, pageantry, and local culture.

Kenka Yatai (Fighting Floats)

 

Nana Hokai Gyōretsu (Traditional Procession)

 

Location: Tajima District Minami Aizu

【Contact】
Minami Aizu Machi Tourism and Products Association
Tel: 0241-62-3000

Summer Festa in Koriyama 2019 – Beer Festival
Location: Kaiseizan Park, Koriyama City
Dates & Times:

• July 24 (Wed) – July 28 (Sun)

• Weekdays: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Weekends: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  Last orders: food at 8:30 PM, drinks at 8:45 PM

One of Japan’s largest beer gardens, this festival is packed with stage performances and fun events for the whole family!

Special attractions include:

• Nightly fireworks displays

• Quiz tournaments

• En-nichi Fureai Hiroba – food stalls and entertainment booths

• Kodomo Land – a kids’ play zone

Enjoy a wide variety of cuisines, including dishes made from local brand vegetables, and delicious foods prepared by local producers using the finest ingredients.

Tickets

• Advance Ticket: ¥2,500
  (Includes entrance, two beer tickets, and a ¥1,200 redeemable coupon)
  Beer price: ¥600 per serving

• One-Day Ticket: ¥3,000
  (Includes entrance, two beer tickets, and a ¥1,200 redeemable coupon)
  Beer price: ¥600 per serving

Entrance is free for high school students and younger.

Location: Kaiseizan Kōen Jiyū Hiroba (Kaiseizan Park Free Square), Koriyama City

Contact:
Summer Festa in Koriyama 2019 Executive Committee
Phone: +81 24-921-2600

Bandai Matsuri – Inawashiro Town

Dates: Saturday, July 27 – Sunday, July 28

The 71st Bandai Matsuri was originally established to honor and hold a memorial for those who lost their lives in the volcanic eruptions of Mount Bandai on July 15, 1888 (Meiji 21).

This year’s theme is “Prayer and Gratefulness – Two Thoughts to Pray to the Fire.” Over the course of two days, the festival commemorates the victims while also offering prayers for a bountiful harvest and a peaceful life in the town.

Location: Omatsuri Hiroba [Festival Square], Chuō-dōri, and some other places around the area, Inawashiro Machi, Maya Gun, Fukushima Prefecture

【Contact】
Bandai Matsuri Executive Committee Office
Tel: 0242-62-2117

Miharu no Sato Natsu Matsuri 2019 – Miharu Town Summer Festival
Date: Sunday, July 28
Location: Denen Seikatsu-kan, Miharu no Sato, Miharu Town

The annual Miharu no Sato Natsu Matsuri is packed with fun events for all ages:

• Hand Catching Char – a favorite activity for kids

• Singing & Dancing Shows by local performers

• Japanese Drums (Taiko) Performance

• Gymnastics Show

• Orchestra & Live Music Performances

Food stands offer a variety of freshly prepared dishes, from fried to grilled specialties. The festival concludes with a stunning fireworks display over Sakura Lake, creating a beautiful night view.

Location: Denen Seikatsu-kan, Miharu no Sato

【Contact】
Denen Seikatsu-kan, Miharu no Sato
Tel: 0247-62-8010

Soma Nomaoi [Soma Wild Horse Chase]

Dates: Saturday, July 27 – Monday, July 29
Location: Haramachi-ku, Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

About Soma Nomaoi
Soma Nomaoi is a spectacular annual cavalry festival held by three shrines—Ota Jinja, Odaka Jinja, and Nakamura Jinja—collectively known as Soma San-ja. The festival features five main ritual events:

1. Departure Ceremonies from the three shrines

2. Cavalry Procession with riders dressed as samurai warriors

3. Cavalry Race

4. Sacred Shrine Flag Catching Battle

5. Wild Horse Chase

About 500 riders don full samurai armor and compete on horseback in these heroic events. The festival originated as a military drill by Tairano Masakado, a forefather of the Soma Clan, imagining wild horses as enemies.

In 1978, Soma Nomaoi was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It is now held annually on the last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of July.

Event Schedule – Day 1

• Yoi-nori [Riding at Dusk]: After the Departure Ceremonies at the three shrines, each troop of armored riders heads to the festival field, forming a grand cavalry procession. Once assembled, they participate in the Yoi-nori horse race, using traditional harnesses.

 

2. Hon-matsuri [Main Festival] – Day 2

Day 2 begins with the Ogyōretsu [Procession], where all armored participants ride in a grand cavalry procession to the festival field. Upon arrival, they remove their samurai helmets, don white headbands, and enter the Katchū Keiba [Cavalry Race].

In this thrilling race, riders dash fearlessly on horseback with flags fluttering from their backs, creating a truly magnificent spectacle. The day also features the Shinki Sōdatsu-sen [Flag Catching Battle], where riders compete heroically to catch sacred shrine flags that are launched alongside fireworks.

This dramatic combination of skill, bravery, and pageantry makes Day 2 the highlight of the festival.

Katchū Keiba [cavalry race] (Hibari ga Hara Saijō-chi [festival field])

Shinki Sōdatsu-sen [sacred shrine flag catching battle] (Hibari ga Hara Saijō-chi)

Oagari [return procession]

3. Noma-kake [Wild Horse Chase] – Day 3

The festival concludes with the Noma-kake [Wild Horse Chase], the final sacred event. Participants chase and catch a bareback horse, which is then dedicated to Odaka Shrine as part of the traditional ritual.

Soma Noma-oi “Hi no Matsuri” [Soma Wild Horse Chase “Fire Festival”] – Odaka-ku, Minami Soma City

Date & Time: Sunday, July 28, 7:20 PM – 8:00 PM
In case of severe weather, the show will be postponed to Saturday, August 31.

About the Festival:
The Hi no Matsuri [Fire Festival] originated as a local custom. After Day 2 of the three-day Soma Nomaoi Festival, residents would light lanterns and torches along the route from Hibari-ga-Hara Saijō-chi (horse race field) to guide warriors and portable shrine carriers safely home.

Today, the festival features approximately 2,000 bonfires around the fireworks area and launches around 4,000 fireworks, including large Ni-shaku Dama shells (about 60 cm / 23 in) and synchronized musical fireworks. It’s a spectacular finale that honors tradition while dazzling spectators.

Location: Along Maekawa Teibou [Dike Maekawa]
Access by train: 15-minute walk from Odaka Station, JR Jōban Line

Noma-kake – Odaka District, Minami Soma City
Nationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

Date & Time: Monday, July 29, 9:10 AM

As the essence of Soma Nomaoi, Noma-kake—also called “Age Noma no Shinji”—is a sacred horse dedication ritual. Participants dressed in white chase a bareback horse driven into a bamboo enclosure at Soma Odaka Shrine and catch it with their hands.

This ritual preserves the original style of Nomaoi established by Tairano Masakado, the forefather of the Soma Clan. The custom of dedicating a living horse to a deity is believed to be the origin of ema [picture-horses], the wooden plaques used at shrines for prayers and wishes, which historically featured horse illustrations.

Location: Soma Odaka Jinja
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Joban Line Odaka Station

【Contact】
Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee
Tel: 0244-22-3064

Koriyama Uneme Matsuri [Festival for an Imperial Court Maid] – Koriyama City

Dates: Thursday, August 1 – Saturday, August 3
The festival will be held rain or shine.

About the Festival:
Uneme Matsuri is Koriyama’s largest festival, inspired by the legend of Uneme, an imperial court maid from the Nara period. The festival features a variety of events, including:

• Uneme Kuyō-sai – Memorial Service Festival

• Chibikko Uneme Matsuri – Children’s Festival

• Uneme Odorinagashi – Dance Parade

Illuminated by the beautiful glow of Uneme Lanterns, the festival also includes lively shopping street events around Koriyama Ekimae-dōri, drawing large crowds each year.

Location: Koriyama Ekimae-dōri, Katahira-machi, and other areas nearby Koriyama Station

【Contact】
Koriyama Uneme Matsuri Executive Committee
Tel: 024-921-2610

Fukushima Waraji Matsuri [Straw Sandal Festival] – Fukushima City

Dates & Time: Evenings, Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4

About the Festival:
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Fukushima Waraji Matsuri was first held in 1970 (Showa 45) and originates from the traditional Shinto Akatsuki Mairi, a ritual for dedicating a large straw sandal (waraji). The festival is accompanied by Waraji Ondo, a folk dance song composed by the late famous Japanese musician Yūji Koseki.

This year, the festival is being renewed under executive producer Yoshihide Otomo, a multi-talented musician from Fukushima. Drawing on local folktales, the festival’s origin, and its traditional purpose, Otomo has recreated an integrated performance combining music, dance, and costumes.

The traditional Fukushima Ondo, used in festivals across the region, has been rearranged for a taiko drum ensemble, and the New Waraji Odori [dance] will be performed to this dynamic drum composition, offering a fresh and spectacular experience while honoring tradition.

Location

Festival Venues & Schedule:

August 2–3:

• Along Route 13

• Shinobu-dōri

• With Motomachi 4F

• Front Site of With Motomachi

• With Motomachi 2F / S-PAL Fukushima

August 4:

• Haguro Jinja [Shrine] – Waraji Dedication

• Machinaka Hiroba – Nōryō Bon Odori [Traditional Folk-Dance Festival]

Contact:
Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Executive Committee
Phone: +81 24-536-5511

Karariko Festa 2019 – Kawamata Town

Date & Time: Wednesday, August 14, 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

About the Festival:
Karariko Festa features a variety of exciting events for all ages, including:

• Kodomo Bon Odori – Traditional folk dance for children

• Traditional Dance Parade with Kawamata Ondo, a folk-dance song composed by Yūji Koseki

• Spectacular Fireworks Display by Kanno Enka-ten Fireworks Factory

The festival offers a lively celebration of local culture, music, and dazzling visual performances.

Location: Kawamata Chūou Kōminkan [central public hall]

【Contact】
Kawamata Natsu Matsuri Executive Committee
Tel: 024-565-2377

Datena Taiko Matsuri [Taiko Drum Festival] – Date City

Date & Time: Sunday, August 25, 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Fireworks display begins at 8:45 PM
The festival will take place rain or shine, but may be canceled in severe weather.

About the Festival:
The Datena Taiko Matsuri is an exciting annual celebration of traditional Japanese drumming. Experience the thrilling performances of taiko drums, vibrant festival energy, and conclude the day with a spectacular fireworks display.

Datena Taiko Matsuri – Events & Highlights

Events:

• Datena Gourmet Festival – D-1 Grand Prix: Sample delicious local foods from Date City and vote for the ultimate Date Food winner!

• 35th Ryōzen Taiko Matsuri: Experience the powerful and dynamic performance of traditional Ryōzen Taiko drums.

Live Performances:

• Yamazaru – A music artist from Fukushima, performing a lively night show.

• Masaya Mine & Emiko Funayama – Enka singers from Fukushima. Enjoy the beauty of traditional Japanese ballads performed live.

Location: Hobara Sōgō Kōen [Comprehensive Park], Date City

Contact:
Datena Taiko Matsuri Executive Committee Office
Phone: +81 24-575-1554

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