murmurSakata Matsuri
Sakata City · Nakamachi (Naka-dori Street) and central Sakata
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Yamagata Prefecture official tourism site · Last checked: Oct 10, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- May 19–21, 2026 （Ended） Eve festival May 19 from 17:00; main day May 20 with the opening rite at 12:00, the shrine procession at 13:00 and the oiran parade at 15:30
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually late May
- How the date is set
- Every year, May 19 – May 21 Eve festival on the 19th, main day on the 20th, closing day on the 21st
- Venue
- Nakamachi (Naka-dori Street) and central Sakata
- City
- Sakata City, Yamagata
About
Sakata's spring festival began as the Sanno Festival of the Upper and Lower Hie Shrines and has been held every single year since 1609. It took the name Sakata Matsuri in 1979, marking the city's recovery from the great Sakata fire. Over three days from May 19 to May 21, the eve festival brings stage performances by local high school students and groups, the lighting of the floats and a night float parade. On the main day, May 20, the shrine procession, a historical costume parade and decorated floats fill the town center, followed by an oiran courtesan procession in the late afternoon. Families line up for "Shishi Pakkun", when a giant lion head gently "bites" small children to wish them good health.
Sources
- OfficialYamagata Prefecture official tourism site yamagatakanko.com
- OfficialSakata Tourism and Products Association sakata-kankou.com
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
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.