2025 edition! Powerful horse races are full of power! Soma Nomaoi, a major event in Soma, Fukushima

  • Fukushima
  • Experience Gifu
Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee
The Soma Nomaoi Festival is held on the last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of May every year!

May 24 (Sat.), 25 (Sun.), and 26 (Mon.), 2025!

Soma Nomaoi is a traditional festival held over three days on the last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of May. The sight of approximately 400 mounted warriors in armor, swords at their waists, and banners on their backs, galloping across the fields is like a picture scroll of the times.
Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee

Before going to see the festival! Let's learn the etiquette of "Soma Nomaoi"!

To ensure a safe and pleasant festival, please observe the following rules when watching the Soma Nomaoi:

1, Do not cross in front of the horses
2, Do not look down from a high place
3, Do not stand behind the horses
4, Do not flash the horses
5, Do not touch the horses or startle them loudly
Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee

5/24(Sat) Ride out and ride in the night

On the first day, the [orikidashi] will be held at Soma San Myoken Shrine (Soma Nakamura Shrine, Soma Ota Shrine, and Soma Odaka Shrine) and will be carried out to the Hibarigahara Festival site (Minamisoma City), which is the main venue of the festival.

The "Yoinori Horse Race" held at the Hibarigahara Festival site is an overwhelming sight to see the warriors in their battle coats riding at full gallop on their horses!
A palanquin at Soma Kotako-jinja Shrine (image courtesy of the Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)
Yoinori horse race (image courtesy of the Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)

5/25(Sun) Nomaoi

Parade

The second day is the highlight of the Soma Nomaoi Festival! In the "O-goirei" procession, about 400 mounted warriors march toward the main camp about 3 kilometers away in Hibarigahara (Minamisoma City). The gorgeous and gorgeous Sengoku picture scroll, with armor, swords, and ancestral banner fluttering in the wind, is truly a masterpiece of the warring states period!
Parade (Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)

Armor Horse Race

In the "Armored Horse Race" held at noon, the jingai and jindaiko (drums) ring out, and the mounted warriors, with helmets off and white headdresses on, run gallantly and daringly as one, with their ancestral flag-designated weapons fluttering in the wind. The scene of the riders running through the dusty streets is very powerful.
Armor horse race (Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)

Kamihatai Battle

In the "battle for the sacred banner," hundreds of mounted warriors gather at the signal of the jingai at 13:00, and with a single shot of the cannon, they rush toward the falling sacred banner! The mounted warriors who captured the sacred banner in their hands were given a round of applause.
Kamihatai Battle (Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)

5/26(Mon) Nomakake

On the final day, the "Nomakake" ceremony is held, in which the horsemen, dressed in white and wearing white bowls and white costumes, drive the released horses into the shrine grounds, catch them with their bare hands, and dedicate them to the gods, a ritual that preserves the ancient tradition of Nomaoi.

The three days of the festival are full of power and excitement! Please come to Minamisoma to experience the Soma Nomaoi!
Nomakake (Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)

Access to the main venue: Hibarigahara Festival site

Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee Official Website

Soma Nomaoi sightseeing tour is recommended!

For group tour reservations, please visit 【Travel the package tour booking site of JR East View Tourism & Sales 】

Take your favorite train and lodging combination for a budget-friendly trip!

You can create your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product sold exclusively through the Internet that allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! Please enjoy your own trip according to your schedule and purpose.

Click here for details

For train + accommodation "Fukushima Prefecture Area" reservations, please visit 【 JR East View Dynamic Rail Package 】
*Image courtesy of Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee
*All images are for reference only.
The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*The information in this article is current as of February 2025.
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