2025 Edition! Watch the powerful Yamabutsuri at the Kakunodate Festival in Akita

  • Akita
  • Sightseeing
Kakunodate Festival's Yamabutsuki (festival floats) in 2024!
Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture hosts the "Kakunodate Festival Yamabutsuki" from September 7 to 9 every year, which is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan. The highlight of the festival is the "Yamabutsutsuke," in which floats violently collide with each other! The highlight of the festival is the "Yamabutsuri," in which the floats collide violently with each other!

A festival with a tradition of about 400 years

Origin of the festival

The Kakunodate Festival's mountain event began about 400 years ago. The Kakunodate Matsuri is the very origin of Japanese festivals, as it is steeped in the belief of waiting for and receiving the gods, and even features fierce clashes in which young people go to the limits of their power. It is a prayer for the prosperity of the community, business, and the health of the family, and is said to be a combination of the Shinmyo Shrine (September 7 and 8) and Yakushido (September 8 and 9) festivals.

Hikiyama (floats) carrying warrior dolls and Kabuki dolls are brought out from each town and paraded through the town, pulled by young men. Hikiyama is a type of float. The term "hikiyama" varies from region to region.
Hikiyama decorated with samurai and kabuki dolls
A scene from a visit to the shrine

Flow of the festival

On the 7th, the floats will go to Shinmyo Shrine for worship, on the 8th, they will pass through the Samurai Residence Street to visit the head of the Satake Kita family, and on the 8th and the final day, the 9th, they will go up to the Yakushido Hall.

Schedule for 2025
[Sunday, September 7, 2025]
10:00~ Shinmyoja Festival "Day Festival"
16:00~ Shinmyoja visit
20:00~ Shinmyoja Festival "Yoimiya Festival"

[Monday, September 8, 2025]
8:00~ Shinmyoja portable shrine procession
10:00~ 17:30 Satake Kita family visit and Oyama music contest
15:00~ Seicho-in Yakushido Rite Opening Buddhist memorial service
16：00- Visiting Seijoin Yakushido
18：00- Sightseeing Yamabutsuri

[Tuesday, September 9]
7：10- Mikoshi parade at Seijoin Yakushido
10：00- Visiting Seijoin Yakushido
10：00- Hikiyama Hikigashimawari

Flamboyant "Hikiyama

The floats are accompanied by people who play "Oyamabayashi" (festival music) with flutes, large drums, drums, gongs, and shamisen. The highlight of the festival is the glamorous hand dance of the Akita obako! Akita obako" refers to young Akita girls. There is also a folk song called "Akita obako," which originated in the Senboku region.
Akita Obakotachi no Teodori
Glossy Teodori (hand dance)

Climax of the festival "Yama Bussuke

When the floats meet on the road, negotiations begin as to which of the two will give way. After the visit to the shrine, etc., when the purpose of the procession is lost, the floats no longer have priority in the procession and negotiations break down! The "Yamabutsuri" is the festival's climax, where the floats collide and the winner is decided by which of them will pass the road first.
The "Yamabutsuri" is the climax of the festival, and both the pullers and the music reach their climax!

Schedule for FY 2025
September 8 "Kanko Yamabutsuri" scheduled clash time
(1) 18:00 Nishikatsuraku-cho - Ekimae (in front of former Kakunodate Town Hall)
(2) 18:30 Yokomachi - Sakurabi-cho (in front of Kakunodate Kanko Taxi)
(3) 19:00 Kamishinmachi - Sugasawa (3) 19:00 Kamishinmachi - Sugasawa (in front of Kurosawa Clock Shop)
(4) 19:00 Otsuka - East (in front of Senboku Branch of Tenrikyo)
(5) 19:30 Chuo Dori - Kawaramachi (in front of Domanin)
(6) 19:30 Nanokaicho - West (in front of Akita Bank)
(7) 21:30 Sugasawa - Honmachi Dori (in front of Komatsu Clothing Store)
*The scheduled clash time of the "Kanko-Yama Bussuke" will be announced on the Kakunodate Tourist Association's website as soon as it is determined.
Young people crowd around each other, and the excitement of the festival is at its peak!
Senboku City Tourist Information Top Page

Kakunodate Town", the place where the festival is held

Shinmeisha Shrine, Kakunodate's main shrine

Seishoin Yakushido

Information on "Kakunodate Matsuri-no-Yama Event

Date: September 7-9

●Organizer: Kakunodate Matsuri no Yama Event Executive Committee

●Inquiries: Senboku City Tourism Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimae Kura" (TEL: 0187-54-2700)

The lively fusion of young people and Yama-butsuri, along with the sounds of musical instruments and beautiful and flexible hand dance by obakos, is very attractive. The nearby samurai residences of Kakunodate, known as "Little Kyoto" in the Tohoku region, make it a great place to experience the history of the area while watching the festival.
Why not visit Kakunodate to see the live and powerful "Yamabutsuri"?

*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*Photographs courtesy of Senboku City Tourism Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimae Kura" and Akita Prefecture's official tourism site [Akita Fun].
For more information about "Kakunodate Matsuri no Yama-gyo"

Notice of Traffic Regulations during the Kakunodate Festival

Please note that traffic regulations will be enforced in the town during the festival, and that the area of traffic regulations will be reduced in stages on September 7 (Sun.).
Please note that there will be changes in the restricted area and time from the previous year.

Traffic regulation on September 7 (Sun.)

September 8 (Monday) Traffic Regulation Notice

September 9 (Tue) Traffic Regulation Notice

Combine your favorite train with lodging or a day trip plan for a great travel experience!

You can make your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product available only on the web, which allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and apply for them all at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your application, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! Enjoy your own trip according to your schedule and purpose.
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