Festivals and events in Iwate

34 major festivals and seasonal events in Iwate, across the whole year. We only list dates we have confirmed with official announcements.

Dates can change. Check the official website before you go.

See the year at a glance Add to calendar (.ics)

The .ics file only includes events whose dates we have confirmed with official announcements. Each entry links to the official website.

January

2026 Jan 15 (Thu) Ended

Morioka Hadaka-mairi (Midwinter Pilgrimage)
Morioka City · Morioka Hachimangu Shrine and other shrines and temples in Morioka
Usually late January
Please check the official website for dates.

Motsuji Hatsuka-yasai (Twentieth Night Festival)
Hiraizumi Town · Motsuji Temple

February

Usually mid February
Please check the official website for dates.

Daito Ohara Mizukake Matsuri (Water-Throwing Festival)
Ichinoseki City · Ohara shopping street and surroundings, Daito, Ichinoseki
2026 Feb 27 – Mar 3 Ended

Oshu Mizusawa Kukuribina Matsuri (Padded Doll Festival)
Oshu City · Maple (1F special venue), Oshu City Samurai Residence Museum and Mizusawa Tourism and Products Center
2026 Feb 20 – Mar 5 Ended

Tono Machiya Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival in Tono's Townhouses)
Tono City · Around JR Tono Station

March

2026 Mar 1 (Sun) Ended

Chotokuji Somin-sai Festival
Ichinoseki City · Chotokuji Temple, Fujisawa, Ichinoseki
2026 Mar 1 (Sun) Ended

Miyako Hairy Crab Festival
Miyako City · Special venue at Miyako Fish Market

April

2026 Apr 10–29 Ended

Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival
Kitakami City · Kitakami Tenshochi Park
2026 Apr 25 (Sat) Ended

Hitaka Hibuse Matsuri (Mizusawa Fire Prevention Festival)
Oshu City · Central Mizusawa, Oshu (Ote-dori and surrounding streets)

May

2026 May 1–5 Ended

Spring Fujiwara Festival
Hiraizumi Town · Around Hiraizumi (Motsuji to Chusonji and other sites)
2026 May 3–4 Ended

Esashi Jinku Festival
Oshu City · Odori Park and central Esashi, Oshu
Usually late May
Please check the official website for dates.

Gokusui no En at Motsuji (Winding Stream Poetry Party)
Hiraizumi Town · Motsuji Temple

June

2026 Jun 10–30 Ended

Motsuji Iris Festival
Hiraizumi Town · Motsuji Temple
2026 Jun 13 (Sat) Ended

Chagu Chagu Umakko (Decorated Horse Procession)
Takizawa City and Morioka City · From Onikoshi Sozen Shrine (Takizawa) to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine (Morioka)

July

Usually mid July
Please check the official website for dates.

Hiraizumi Mizukake Mikoshi (Water-Splashing Portable Shrine Parade)
Hiraizumi Town · Central Hiraizumi, from the Kanjizaio-in Temple ruins via Motsuji Temple and Hiraizumi Station to Chusonji Temple
2026 Jul 25 (Sat) Ended

Sakagai Jizo Festival
Morioka City · Eisho-in Temple, Zaimokucho, Morioka

August

Usually early August
Please check the official website for dates.

Hayachine Shrine Grand Festival
Hanamaki City · Hayachine Shrine, Take district, Ohasama, Hanamaki
Usually early August
Please check the official website for dates.

Ichinoseki Summer Festival
Ichinoseki City · Omachi and surrounding areas, central Ichinoseki
2026 Aug 7–9 Ended

Kitakami Michinoku Folk Performing Arts Festival
Kitakami City · Hon-dori in front of Kitakami City Hall, Suwa Shrine, the Kitakami River bank and other venues around the city
2026 Aug 1–4 Ended

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
Morioka City · Chuo-dori Avenue (from the Iwate Prefectural Public Hall to Eigakan-dori) and other venues
2026 Jul 31 – Aug 1 Ended

Sanriku Ofunato Summer Festival
Ofunato City · Chayamae Quay area, Ofunato Port
2026 Aug 16 (Sun) Ended

Morioka Funakko Nagashi (Burning Boats on the Kitakami River)
Morioka City · Riverbank upstream of Meiji Bridge (Senbokucho side)
2026 Aug 28–30 Ended

Ichinohe Matsuri
Ichinohe Town · Around IGR Ichinohe Station

September

2026 Sep 4–6 Ended

Ninohe Matsuri
Ninohe City · Central Ninohe and Donko Inari Shrine
2026 Sep 11–13 Ended

Hanamaki Matsuri
Hanamaki City · Festival plaza around Kamicho, central Hanamaki, and nearby streets
2026 Sep 17–20 Ended

Kuji Autumn Festival
Kuji City · Central Kuji (Aramachi to Osanai Bridge)
2026 Sep 14–16 Ended

Morioka Autumn Festival (Floats of Morioka Hachimangu)
Morioka City · Morioka Hachimangu Shrine and streets across central Morioka
2026 Sep 19–20 Ended

Tono Festival
Tono City · Central Tono (around Tono Station) and Tonogo Hachimangu Shrine
2026 Sep 19–21 Ended

Yamada Matsuri (Yamada Town Shrine Festivals)
Yamada Town · Yamada Hachimangu Shrine, Osugi Shrine and Chuo Park (festival plaza)
2026 Sep 19–20 Ended

Miyako Autumn Festival
Miyako City · Central Miyako, around Miyako Station

October

2026 Oct 10–11

Oshu Nambu Ironware Festival
Oshu City · Oshu Casting Technology Exchange Center and Oshu Traditional Industry Hall
2026 Oct 16–18

Kamaishi Matsuri
Kamaishi City · Central Kamaishi and Kamaishi Port

November

Usually early November
Please check the official website for dates.

Autumn Fujiwara Festival
Hiraizumi Town · Chusonji, Motsuji and around Hiraizumi

December

Usually early December
Please check the official website for dates.

Miyako Salmon Festival
Miyako City · Special venue at Miyako Fish Market

On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map

murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.

Download on the App Store Android (Google Play): coming soon