A Sacred Festival Celebrating Three Shrines
The name “Sansha” means “three shrines.” The festival is associated with three important shrines in Hachinohe: Ogami Shrine, Choshozan Shinra Shrine, and Shimmeigu Shrine.
The mikoshi, or portable shrines, of these three shrines are carried through the city as part of sacred processions. These ceremonies express prayers for divine protection, abundant harvests, good health, and prosperity.
The festival takes place over five days, with each day having a particular role in the traditional celebrations.
The Five Days of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai
July 31 – Yoimatsuri: The festival begins with a lively eve celebration.
August 1 – Odoori: The sacred procession, known as the Shinko-sai, takes place as the mikoshi travel through the city.
August 2 – Chubi: The central day of the festival features spectacular performances and float displays.
August 3 – Okaeri: The mikoshi return to the shrines during the Kanko-sai, marking another important religious procession.
August 4 – Ato-yomatsuri: The festival concludes with a final evening celebration.
Throughout the festival period, the city center becomes a vast stage for traditional performances and magnificent floats. The event attracts more than one million visitors in some years, making it one of the largest summer festivals in the Tohoku region.
Magnificent Festival Floats
One of the greatest attractions of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is the spectacular parade of approximately 27 enormous festival floats. Some of these floats are around 10 meters high and 8 meters wide, creating an impressive sight as they move through the streets.
Each float is carefully designed and constructed by local float groups. Their themes are often inspired by Japanese mythology, Kabuki theater, historical stories, legends, and traditional tales.
The floats are not simply large decorative structures. Many feature elaborate mechanisms that allow figures to rise or move, while some incorporate dramatic effects using lights and smoke. The designs and mechanical features continue to evolve from year to year, while retaining the traditional character of the festival.
At night, the floats are illuminated, transforming the streets of Hachinohe into a spectacular and almost dreamlike scene. The enormous illuminated figures towering above the crowds are particularly impressive and offer excellent opportunities for experiencing the visual beauty of traditional Japanese festivals.
Mikoshi Processions and Traditional Performances
The mikoshi processions are among the most solemn and important parts of the festival. The portable shrines represent the presence of the deities and are carried through the city as part of ancient religious traditions.
The processions are accompanied by a variety of traditional performing arts, including Tora-mai tiger dances, Kagura sacred dances, and traditional hand dances.
The sounds of traditional flutes and drums fill the streets as the procession moves forward. The combination of sacred ceremonies, music, dance, and enormous floats creates an atmosphere that is both spiritual and festive.
The History and Origins of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai
The origins of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai can be traced back to 1721, during the Edo period of Japanese history. At that time, a mikoshi from Horei Shrine, now known as Ogami Shrine, was carried to the Kokuzo-do temple on Choshozan, which is associated with present-day Choshozan Shinra Shrine.
The original ceremony was held as a religious ritual to pray for good harvests and favorable weather. Over time, local townspeople began adding dances, performances, and decorated floats to the religious ceremony, gradually transforming it into the spectacular festival seen today.
The Development of the Three-Shrine Festival
During the Meiji period, the festival temporarily declined in popularity. However, thanks in part to the efforts of Osawa Tamon, Choshozan Shinra Shrine and Shimmeigu Shrine became involved in the celebrations.
The event was subsequently revived as a joint festival involving the three shrines. This marked the beginning of the modern form of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai, which eventually became a major community-wide celebration involving people throughout Hachinohe.
Changes During the Modern Era
From 1966 to 1974, the festival was temporarily renamed “Hachinohe Matsuri” as part of efforts to promote tourism. However, concerns arose that the religious and traditional character of the event might become less important.
As a result, the original name, Hachinohe Sansha Taisai, was restored.
In 2004, the festival was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. In 2016, it became part of a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage listing, bringing international attention to its unique combination of religious traditions, elaborate floats, performing arts, and community participation.
Hachinohe Sansha Taisai in Recent Years
Like many traditional events around the world, Hachinohe Sansha Taisai faced an unprecedented challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the traditional procession was cancelled because of the pandemic.
In 2022, organizers experimented with new approaches, including independent float processions that did not necessarily follow the traditional format of combining the shrine processions and floats.
In 2023, the festival’s associated events finally returned in full for the first time in four years. The return of the festival brought excitement and energy back to the streets of Hachinohe.
This ability to preserve traditional customs while adapting to changing circumstances demonstrates the strong commitment of the local community to keeping the festival alive for future generations.
Why Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Is Worth Experiencing
Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is much more than a summer festival. It is a remarkable cultural event in which religion, traditional performing arts, craftsmanship, history, and community spirit come together.
Over approximately 300 years, the people of Hachinohe have developed and preserved the festival while passing its traditions from one generation to the next. The enormous floats demonstrate the creativity and craftsmanship of local communities, while the mikoshi processions preserve the festival’s sacred origins.
For international visitors, the festival offers a fascinating opportunity to experience a side of Japanese culture that cannot easily be understood through museums or historical buildings alone. The sights, sounds, movement, and participation of local residents make the experience particularly immersive.
A Festival That Brings the City Together
When the mikoshi processions, giant floats, traditional dances, flutes, and drums come together, the entire city of Hachinohe seems to become part of one enormous celebration.
The illuminated floats moving through the streets at night are especially memorable. Their enormous scale, colorful decorations, and dramatic designs create a spectacular contrast with the solemn atmosphere of the religious processions.
Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is one of the best places to experience the energy and beauty of traditional Japanese festival culture. With its long history, spectacular floats, sacred ceremonies, traditional performing arts, and strong community spirit, this magnificent summer festival represents both the cultural heritage of Hachinohe and the enduring vitality of Japanese local traditions.