Tohoku Kizuna Festival 2026 Morioka
The Tohoku Kizuna Festival began in 2017 as a successor to the Tohoku Rokkonsai Festival, which was held to repose the souls of victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and to wish for recovery from the disaster. The six festivals from the six prefectural capitals of Tohoku came together, and this event has been held on a rotating basis in the six cities since 2017 with the goal of furthering reconstruction, with the first cycle ending in Aomori City in 2023.
Thirteen years after the disaster, while Tohoku has made progress in reconstruction, the region is also facing new challenges, including population decline, low birth rates, and an aging population, which are growing more rapidly than in the rest of Japan. It is time to strengthen the unity of the six cities, unite our hearts as people of Tohoku, and move toward the development of a vibrant Tohoku region.
The moment the six festivals —Aomori Nebuta Festival, Akita Kanto Festival, Morioka Sansa Odori Festival, Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, Sendai Tanabata Festival, and Fukushima Waraji Festival— join forces, all of Tohoku will be united by a passionate bond and take a large step forward towards a brighter future.
Event Details
| Date and Times | May 23, 2026 (Sat) 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Parade: 1:30-4:00 p.m.) May 24, 2026 (Sun) 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Parade: 24th 12:30-3:00 p.m.) |
| Venue | ・Morioka Castle Site Park Multi-purpose Plaza ・Morioka Historical Cultural Museum Plaza ・Morioka Castle Site Park Lawn Plaza ・Iwate Education Hall Plaza |
| Parade Route | From Morioka City Hall to Chuo-dori 2-chome Intersection (Approx. 1km) |