What kind of festival is the Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival?

The Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival is said to have its origins in the Edo period (1603-1867), when a procession of portable shrines was carried from the present-day Ogami Shrine to the Chojayama Shinra Shrine. Later, folk performing arts such as "yatai" (carts with dolls) and "toramai" (tiger dances) were added to the procession, and the festival developed into a festival to pray for the safety of the town and a good harvest. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the festival became a joint festival of three shrines with the addition of Chojayama Shinra Shrine and Shinmei-gu Shrine, and a new float was added each year.
In recognition of this history, the Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival has been registered as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Event Schedule for the Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival in 2025

Various Local Performing Arts Adding Color to the Procession

The Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival is characterized by a variety of local performing arts. For example, the "Toramai (tiger dance)" has been handed down as a belief to ward off fire and ensure safe voyages. The performers delight the audience with their acrobatic movements, such as tigers rolling on the ground all at once and standing up on their shoulders. The lion dance, performed in black costume, is a traditional performing art called "Horyo Kagura," and the highlight of the performance is the "Simultaneous Teeth Striking," in which the dancers strike the heads of the lions simultaneously.
Many other local performing arts are also performed, such as "Sasa-no-ha Odori" (dance with bamboo leaves) and "Koma Odori" (dance with model horses).

Look out for the powerful and gorgeous floats!

The festival is enlivened by 27 huge floats. Every year, new ones are created based on folk tales and Kabuki plays, and their size and power are astonishing. The floats are also elaborate, with puppets that move up and down, smoke, spray water, and many other elaborate touches. The front and center parts of the float are moved sideways and the rear part is lifted up, depending on the width of the street on which it is to operate, making it an interesting and exciting sight to see.
The production of the floats begins after the consecutive holidays in May every year. The many tricks and gorgeous decorations may be said to be the crystallization of the local people's enthusiasm for the festival.

Kishibari Utsuri Ball" is a must-see during the festival period.

A must-see on the middle day of the festival is the "Kaga Ryu Kiba Dakyu" held at the Chojayama Shinra Shrine.
Divided into two teams of red and white riders, each riding a horse and manipulating a stick called a ball stick (kyuu-jo/gichi-yo), the riders pick up a ball on the ground and aim for the ball gate. Although similar to the English sport of polo, both games actually have their roots in ancient Persia, and are said to have developed from Persia, dividing into East and West.

The eve & evening festivals are also full of attractions

On the eve of the festival on July 31 and the night of the festival on August 4, 27 floats will be displayed simultaneously in the center of Hachinohe City. All floats will be illuminated and displayed with all their gimmicks open, making them a powerful sight to behold. The festival is especially exciting on the eve of the festival, when the excitement of the festival is at its peak.

Hachinohe Sanja Grand Festival
URL: https: //visithachinohe.com/stories/sannshataisai_schedule/
Venue: Central Hachinohe City
Period: July 31 (Thu) - August 4 (Mon), 2025 *Advent Festival on the 31st, Post Festival on the 4th* Same day every year regardless of the day of the week
TEL：0178-27-4243 (Hachinohe Tourist Information Center)