🏮 Kitakami Michinoku Geino Matsuri

北上・みちのく芸能まつり

Kitakami, Iwate (Omatsuri Square) · Every year, 3 days from the 1st Saturday of August

Summer festivalMikoshiBon odoriTraditional performing artsFood stalls

327 days to go
Rooms around Kitakami, Iwate fill up while the festival is on.

The Kitakami Michinoku Geino Matsuri is a summer event held in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, over three days starting on the first Saturday of August each year, and it is sometimes counted as one of the Tohoku Six Great Festivals. Centered on the Omatsuri Hiroba around the west exit of JR Kitakami Station, more than 100 groups perform, mainly traditional performing arts such as Onikenbai. It began in 1962 as the Michinoku Kyodo Geino Matsuri and was renamed to its current name in 1975. In 1974, Japanese National Railways designated it as one of the Tohoku Six Great Festivals, and with the opening of Kitakami Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen in 1982, it changed into an evening-oriented festival. Since 2006 it has been held on its current schedule of three days starting on the first Saturday of August, and in 2026 it will mark its 65th edition. On the first day there is a bon odori parade by citizens, on the second day there are mikoshi (portable shrine) and folk performing arts parades as well as a large group dance of Onikenbai, and on the third day a torokko (lantern) floating on the Kitakami River and a fireworks display are held. The Kitakami City Cultural Exchange Center Sakura Hall is also one of the venues, and kagura, shishi odori, tora mai, and other diverse traditional performing arts can be seen up close at various locations in the city.