Winter 2026! Let's go see Hachinohe Enburi, which heralds the arrival of spring! Hachinohe Enburi

  • Aomori
  • Sightseeing
Hachinohe Enburi dancers dance heroically on the snow.
In Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, visitors can enjoy a traditional performing art called Hachinohe Enburi for four days from February 17 to 20 every year.

Hachinohe Enburi is held from morning to night, allowing for flexible travel plans. Since the event is held close to the tourist attractions, it is easily accessible and can be enjoyed in combination with sightseeing in the surrounding area.

This article introduces the Hachinohe Enburi, along with the schedule for 2026.

The history of Emburi is over 800 years old!

There are various theories about the origin of the festival, but it is often associated with Mitsuyuki Nambu, who came to Hachinohe in the early Kamakura period (1192-1333) to rule the region.

Mitsuyuki armed his retainers and sent them to visit the homes of influential people on his first New Year's Day in the area, but his men, who were drunk, caused a commotion when they pulled out their swords. At that time, the "Tokuro," who plays the leading role in the enburi, was the one who showed tact.
The man in the middle with the gorgeous hat is Toukuro.
The farmer Tokuro attracted the attention of his subjects by singing a rice-planting song while dancing with his farming tools, and finally, he settled the situation by saying a blessing to the Nanbu family.

Let's learn about Emburi!

The enburi, which ruled over even the ruffians, now consists of about 20 to 30 performers, including "tayu" , who perform a unique dance called "suri", dancers, and musicians and singers who are in charge of music.

You can enjoy the performance without any previous knowledge, but you can enjoy it more if you know the meaning of the movements, so I will briefly introduce them here♪
The musicians playing the taiko drums and flutes

program

There are two main types of Enburi: one is called "Suri" and the other is called "Shyukufuku-gei", meaning blessing performance. Suri is often performed by adult men and Shyukufuku-gei is often performed by children (sometimes by women).

What is "suri"?

The tayu who perform suri are characterized by three or five people wearing matching happi coats and eye-catching horse-shaped hats. The tayu's heroic dance represents the process from rice planting to harvest, and is performed as follows:

1: Surikomi...Entering while saying the opening words to begin the enburi
2: Suri-hajime...Sowing seeds and having the horses plow the rice field in preparation for rice planting
3: Naka no suri ...Planting the grown seedlings in the rice field
4：Suri-osame...Finishing rice planting and praying for a good autumn harvest
5：Kuroudome...Chanting a rallying cry to prevent water from leaking out of the rice field
The tayu, who performs suriri
February, when enburi is held, is in the middle of winter when snow dances in the air.
The reason for performing the dance, which simulates rice planting, is to wake up the gods of the rice fields, who are asleep during the winter, and to pray for a bountiful harvest.

There are two types of enburi: the slow and graceful "naga enburi," and the fast-paced and heroic "dosai enburi". The group that performs enburi is called "kumi," and which type of enburi is performed depends on the group. The way to distinguish between the two is simple: "dosai enburi" is when the tayu's hat has a long, fluttering fringe of five different colors.
This is "Dosai Enburi," with a long, fluttering fringe attached to a crow's hat.
Please come and see both the powerful "dosai enburi" and the historic and elegant "naga enburi".

What is "Shyukufuku-Gei"?

"Shyukufuku-gei", blessing performance" is performed mainly by children in between the suri. There are different types of performances that have been handed down from generation to generation depending on the group, but the most common ones are "Matsu no Mai," "Ebisu Mai," "Daikoku Mai," "Enko Enko," etc. The children's makeup is perfect for Ebisu.
The children's movements are adorable in the blessing performance.
All of these dances are soothing to see children dancing so hard, but I personally recommend the "Ebisu Dance. The performance is about the slightly haughty Ebisu-sama, who goes fishing. From finding a place to fish to finally catching a sea bream and ending with "happily ever after", you can't help but smile at the delightful movements of Ebisu-sama.

You are sure to find your favorite performance of the blessing art, which seems to bring you happiness.
Ebisu-san's makeup is also very well done.

Let's go &  see Enburi in person!

Enburi is called "XX enburi" depending on where it is performed, but the content is basically a combination of the above suri and blessing arts. However, since the atmosphere and the program differ depending on the location and the group performing, it is recommended to see more than one performance if possible. Here is a brief introduction to each of them, so please try to find the enburi that suits your taste.

◆Dedication (Location: Chojayama Shinra Shrine)

Date：February 17 (Tue.) 7:00 -

The "dedication" is recommended for those staying in the Hachinohe area the day before. Although it starts early, at 7:00 a.m., the first suriri of the year held at the historic Chojasan Shinra Jinja (Mt. Shinra Shrine) is filled with a sacred atmosphere.
Dedication held in front of the shrine's hall of worship
Procession for dedication
At the shrine, registration for the enburi group, called "fuda-tori," starts at midnight on the 17th. The group that finishes the reception first will be the first to complete the "Simultaneous Zuri", which will start around 10:40 on the same day, so there are some groups that stay at the shrine for several days.

◆Emburi parade and simultaneous sliding (Location: Choja Matsuri Ringu Plaza - Hachinohe City Center)

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 10:00 - 11:20

After the dedication, the enburi group will head to the Choja Matsuringu Plaza, which is like a waiting area. This is like a standby area, where the enburi group will perform throughout the plaza until the enburi procession and simultaneous suri begin. This is a good place to watch the dancers from close up, so it is recommended for those who want to take a closer look at the suri.
The enburi procession starts at 10:00. After gathering in the center of the town where Simultaneous Zuri is held, it is a sight to behold as all the enburi groups perform enburi at the same time! Recommended for those who want to see a powerful enburi.
The procession of the Eburi procession is coming! The mood of the festival is rising!
The procession of the enburi starts! The object held in the right hand is a "jangi," a farming implement.

Enburi parade and simultaneous sliding (Location: Hachinohe City Hall Main Building)

February 17 (Tue.) 12:15 -

Enburi is performed in front of the mayor of Hachinohe City as a remnant of the performance for the feudal lord of the Hachinohe domain in the old days. The group that performs changes depending on the year. Of course, the general public is welcome to watch.

Enburi open to the public (Location: Citizen's Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall)

February 19 (Thu.), 20 (Fri.) 13:00 - 14:00

The Enburi is held in the daytime at the same place as the Gozen Enburi and the Kagaribi Enburi. It is bright and gorgeous because it is held in the daytime! It is a good time to see the festival after having lunch in the city center.

◆Kagaribi Enburi (Location: Civic Plaza in front of Hachinohe City Hall Main Building)

February 17 (Tue.) - 20 (Fri.) 18:00 -, 19:00 -, 20:00 -

As the name suggests, the Bonfire Enburi is held every night during the festival period with a bonfire burning. In the darkness of the night, the sound of the crackling bonfire and the dancing sparks of fire create a fantastic atmosphere. It gets very cold at night, so please be warm and watch the festival. It is also recommended to buy something warm to eat at the food stalls.

Enburi performance (Location: Hachinohe City Hall Main Building)

Date & Time: February 18 (Wed.), 19 (Thu.) 11:00 - 12:00 *Admission fee is required.

The festival is held in a reconstructed plaza of Nejo, a castle built in 1334 during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, so it is recommended for history buffs. Kushibiki Hachimangu Shrine, a national treasure, is a 15-minute bus ride away, so it is recommended to visit there as well.
Historic Site Nejo Enburi

Enburi performance (Location: SG GROUP Hall Hachinohe (Hachinohe City Public Hall))

Date：February 17 (Tue.), 18 (Wed.) 13:00-16:30 *Admission fee required

Most enburi are held outdoors, but this one is held indoors on a stage, so it is recommended for those who do not like the cold or prefer to sit and watch the enburi in a relaxed atmosphere. Seating is unreserved, and on both days you will be able to see three performances, including a children's enburi group. There is a break in the middle of the performance, and it is possible to leave the theater. In addition to advance tickets, same-day tickets are also available. Please see the official website of SG GROUP Hall Hachinohe (Hachinohe City Public Hall) below for reservation information.
There is also a backdrop for the performance on the stage!
SG GROUP Hall Hachinohe (Hachinohe City Public Hall) Official website is here

◆Oniwa Enburi (Location: Kojokaku)

Feb. 17 (Tue.) - 20 (Fri.) 17:00-/19:15- *There is a fee; advance reservation required

The charm of Oniwa Enburi is that visitors can enjoy enburi at their leisure in a historic building! In addition, amazake (sweet sake) and Hachinohe senbei soup, a local specialty, are included, and kneecakes are also provided.
Oba Enburi
The venue, Kojokaku, is a retro building that was built and reconstructed between the Meiji and Taisho eras and is the residence of the Izumiyama family, a zaibatsu, and is registered as a Tangible Cultural Heritage of Japan. When it gets dark, a bonfire is lit in the magnificent garden, and the Enburi performance is performed with its light illuminating the darkness. The atmosphere is perfect for enburi, which were often performed in the tatami rooms of local merchants and landowners.
The path leading to the illuminated and atmospheric Sarajo-gaku garden.
Seats facing the garden for viewing the enburi.
Since it is very popular, it is recommended to make a reservation as soon as the reservation starts. Reservations can be made at Lawson and Ministop Loppi terminals nationwide, on the Lochike website, and on the KKday website. For more details, please visit the official website of VISIT Hachinohe below.
VISIT Hachinohe Official website is here

◆Others

In addition to the above, some tourist facilities in Hachinohe City are also holding enburi performances during the period, so it is recommended to check the websites of the facilities you plan to visit in advance. You may unexpectedly see the enburi troupe at the gate in the central area, etc.♪

Hachinohe Enburi Schedule for 2026

Tuesday, February 17

7:00- Dedication (Chojayama Shilla Shrine)
8:00-9:00 Photo Session (Chojayama Shilla Shrine)
10:00- Enburi Procession- Hachinohe City Center (Chojamatsuringu Plaza)
10:40-11:20 Shitan-tsuri (Hachinohe City Center)
12:15- Omae Enburi (Hachinohe City Hall Main Building Municipal Plaza)
13:00-16:30 Approx. Enburi Performance (Hachinohe City Public Hall) *Paid
17:00～/19:15～ Oba Enburi (Sarajokaku) *Paid
18:00～, 19:00～, 20:00～ Bonfire Enburi (Citizen's Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall Main Building)

February 18 (Wed)

11:00-12:00 Historic Site Nejo Enburi (Historic Site Nejo no Hiroba) *Admission fee required
13:00-16:30 approx. Enburi Performance (Hachinohe City Public Hall) *Paid
17:00~/19:15~ Oba Enburi (Sarajokaku) *Paid
18:00~, 19:00~, 20:00~ Bonfire Enburi (Citizen's Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall Main Building)

February 19 (Thursday)

11:00～12:00 Historic Site Nejo Enburi (Historic Site Nejo no Hiroba) *Admission required
13:00～, 14:00～ Enburi open to the public (Citizen's Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall Main Bldg.)
17:00～/19:15～ Oniwa Enburi (Sarajokaku) *Fee
18:00～, 19:00～, 20:00～ Bonfire Enburi (Hachinohe City Hall Main Bldg. Civic Plaza)

Feb. 20 (Fri.)

13:00～, 14:00～ Enburi Open to the Public (Hachinohe City Hall Main Bldg. Citizen's Square)
17:00～/19:15～ Oniwa Enburi (Sarajokaku) *Fee
18:00～, 19:00～, 20:00～ Bonfire Enburi (Hachinohe City Hall Main Bldg. Citizen's Square)

Together with sightseeing around the area

Many of Hachinohe's enburi are held in the city, so it is possible to take a quick peek during a break from sightseeing. Nearby are the Hachinohe Book Center, a rare bookstore operated by the city, the Hachinohe Portal Museum (nicknamed "Hacchi"), where you can buy cute Hachinohe souvenirs and have lunch made with local ingredients (during the festival, there are also Enburi exhibitions, performances and workshops), and the Hachinohe Museum of Art, which was reborn in 2021. If you take a bus in town, you can also access the Korekawa Archaeological Institution Korekawa Jomon Kan, which houses a national treasure clay figurine.

Please come and see the atmospheric Hachinohe Enburi, which takes place amidst dancing snow!
All images of Hachinohe Enburi on this page are provided by "VISIT Hachinohe

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