🏮 Enburi

えんぶり

Hachinohe, Aomori (Shiragi Shrine) · Every year on 17 February

Important Intangible Folk Cultural PropertyTraditional performing arts

156 days to go
Rooms around Hachinohe, Aomori fill up while the festival is on.

The Hachinohe Enburi, held annually in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, from February 17 to 20, is a winter festival for a good harvest designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Starting with a dedication at Chojasan Shinsha Shrine, over thirty groups perform dances at various locations in and around the city, including the central shopping district, the historic site Nejo Castle, and Kokanjaku. This festival is a local performing art derived from the farming tool "eburi," used to level fields, and is counted as one of Aomori's three great winter festivals. It is known for the distinctive dance called "suri," in which dancers wearing eboshi (formal headwear) shake their heads vigorously, and a celebratory performance in which children play the main role is also one of the highlights. The main events are diverse, including the Enburi Parade and the Simultaneous Suri in the central district of Hachinohe City, the Garden Enburi held at Kokanjaku, the former residence of a wealthy merchant family from the Meiji period, and the Bonfire Enburi at the Citizen's Plaza in front of the Hachinohe City Hall Main Building. The traditional dance is performed in atmospheres that differ from venue to venue.

Getting there

The nearest station is Hachinohe Station on the JR Hachinohe Line. From the station, it takes about 15 minutes by bus to the central district. The various venues in the central district can be visited on foot.