Festivals & Events
Yamagata Hanagasa Festival 山形花笠まつり
©Yamagata Prefecture Hanagasa Council
Dance to the rhythm of the music in one of Tohoku's largest parades
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival takes place August 5 to 7 and celebrates the traditional music and dance of the region in one of Tohoku's largest parades. Moving to the hypnotic rhythm of taiko drums, some 10,000 local dancers in dazzling costumes follow gorgeously decorated floats.
Don't Miss
- The individual personalities of the dancers as they freestyle to the music
- The “walk-in” dance at the end where spectators are invited to join the parade and dance along
How to Get There
Happening in Yamagata City 
, the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is easily reached by public transportation.
About a 10-minute walk from Yamagata Station, the festival takes place from Tokamachi Corner to the front of Bunshokan.
©Yamagata Prefecture Hanagasa Council
To the rhythm of the music
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival was first held in 1965 and is one of the four main festivals in Tohoku, along with Sendai's Tanabata Festival , Aomori's Nebuta Festival and Akita's Kanto Matsuri . The festival attracts over 1 million spectators during its three days.
Facing Bunshokan, Yamagata's former city hall, the dancers move along to the rhythm of folk songs, whose lyrics such as “Yassho, Makasho” propel the performers through the streets.
©Yamagata Prefecture Hanagasa Council
Symbol of the prefecture
Proudly displayed hand-made flower-hats are the emblem of the Hanagasa dance. They are made of straw and decorated with artificial safflowers, the symbol of Yamagata Prefecture .
The dance style has evolved over the years. Originally the dances were beautifully synchronized group performances, but nowadays they are more creative, freestyle in nature, and often involve twirling the Hanagasa hats.
©Yamagata Prefecture Hanagasa Council
The latest information may differ, so please check the official website
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.
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