Imabetsu Town’s summer tradition, brought together by paired Arama dancers
Arama Festival
The 2026 edition of Arama Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/06 〜 2026/08/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- Early August each year / Every year
- Location
- Around Sazanami Park in Imabetsu Fishing Port (joint procession)
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Imabetsu Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free admission
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional event carried on by the preservation societies of Imabetsu Town, centered on the Arama dance performed by horse performers and rein holders in pairs. You can compare the different dances and festival music performed by each group, and the joint procession brings the Arama performers and musicians together in town.
About Arama Festival
The Arama Festival is a traditional event held in Imabetsu Town in early August each year.
It centers on the Arama dance, which has a history of about 450 years and is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Aomori Prefecture.
Men dressed as horses and women holding the reins pair up and parade through town to the accompaniment of drums, flutes, and other festival music.
Alongside local residents, many people from outside the prefecture take part in the festival, which has been passed down as a culture that fosters connections between people.
Festival highlights
One highlight is being able to compare the different Arama dances from each area.
The Imabetsu Arama Preservation Society, Okawadaira Arama Preservation Society, and Futamata Arama Preservation Society each carry on their own costumes, dance styles, and festival music, resulting in differences in expression, such as vigor and gravitas.
At the joint procession, all the groups come together, with hundreds of Arama performers and musicians parading through town.
The special venue also hosts a street dance parade, stage events, local specialty sales, and a fireworks display.
Imabetsu Town’s summer tradition, brought together by paired Arama dancers
What to expect
At the festival, male horse performers and female rein holders pair up to dance the Arama, parading through town to the accompaniment of taiko drums, flutes, and other festival music.
Preservation societies and other groups hold independent performances in various parts of town, and the Arama groups gather on the day of the joint procession.
The joint event combines a street dance parade, Arama performances, dance, live music, a raffle, and other activities, followed by a fireworks display in the evening.
Source: 荒馬まつり | 今別町
How to take part
Arama dancers include not only local residents but also university students and working adults who come from outside the prefecture.
It is reported that some people first visit Imabetsu Town because of the festival and then continue to stay involved with the community.
The dancers pair up, with a man as the horse performer and a woman holding the reins.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around Sazanami Park in Imabetsu Fishing Port / Imabetsu, Imabetsu Town, Higashitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture (around Kaikyo Sazanami Park inside Imabetsu Fishing Port)
- Train and bus
About 15 minutes from JR Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station by town loop bus or temporary bus / About 15 minutes by the Wan-Taku shared taxi service / About a 15-minute walk from JR Imabetsu Station on the Tsugaru Line
- By car
About 1 hour 10 minutes from JR Aomori Station via Route 280 / About 10 minutes from JR Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station
- Parking
A temporary parking lot is available only on the day of the joint Arama procession in 2026.
A shuttle bus runs from the temporary parking lot at Imabetsu River Riverside Park to the venue.
Address Imabetsu, Imabetsu Town, Higashitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture (around Kaikyo Sazanami Park inside Imabetsu Fishing Port)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
August 6, 2026 (Thu)–August 9 (Sun).
合同運行は8月8日（土）で、12:30に合同イベント開始、17:00〜18:00に荒馬合同運行、19:30〜20:00に海峡花火大会。
自由運行は大川平荒馬保存会が8月7日17:00と8月9日9:00、今別ねぶた実行委員会が8月6日18:00、8月7日8:45から行われます。
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Imabetsu Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, the times for independent performances are estimates and may vary.
On the day of the joint procession, a shuttle bus runs from the temporary parking lot to the venue.
合同イベントは12:30開始、荒馬合同運行は17:00〜18:00、花火大会は19:30〜20:00の予定です。
Nearby attractions
Near the Arama Festival are Shikakuzan Hongakuji Temple, the Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza, the Arama no Sato Museum, and the roadside station Imabetsu Hanto Plaza Asukuru.
All are introduced on the festival information page as places near the venue.
Origins and History of Arama Festival
The Arama Festival is a traditional event with a history of about 450 years, and the Arama dance is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Aomori Prefecture.
Today, preservation societies in areas including Imabetsu, Okawadaira, and Futamata carry on distinct costumes, dance styles, and festival music.
University students and working adults from outside the prefecture take part alongside local residents, and the festival has sparked ongoing交流 between people and the community.
The tradition of men and women dancing in pairs is also cherished as a way to foster connections between people.
Official information
公式案内：今別町「荒馬まつり」荒馬まつり | 今別町
問い合わせ先：今別町観光協会 0174-31-5140
Arama Festival at a Glance
The Arama Festival is a traditional event in Imabetsu Town that has continued for about 450 years.
Centered on the Arama dance, in which male horse performers and female rein holders dance in pairs, each preservation society presents its own costumes, dances, and festival music.
In 2026, the festival will be held from August 6 through the 9th, with Arama performances, a street dance parade, local specialty sales, and a fireworks display planned for the joint procession on August 8.
Admission is free.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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