A spring festival where Esashi Jinku and shishi-odori bring the community together
Esashi Jinku Festival
The 2026 edition of Esashi Jinku Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/03 〜 2026/05/04Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on May 3 and 4 / Every year
- Location
- Oshu City, Esashi, including Odori Park
- Area
- Iwate Prefecture・Oshu City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional festival in Esashi, Oshu City, rooted in the Hibuse Festival, with Esashi Jinku dancing, shishi-odori deer dance, Toshiiwai-ren groups, and neighborhood bringing the town to life. The Grand Parade, in which local residents take part as dancers, is another highlight.
About Esashi Jinku Festival
The Esashi Jinku Festival is a festival for the whole community, carried on since Showa 49 and rooted in the Hibuse Festival of Iwayado.
Toshiiwai-ren groups, neighborhood yatai, and the Esashi Jinku Grand Parade are central to the festival, with a variety of events taking place throughout Esashi.
Each year, visitors can enjoy local dances and traditional performing arts over 2 days, on May 3 and 4.
Source: 第53回江刺甚句まつり／奥州市公式ホームページ / 伝承 | 江刺甚句まつり公式サイト
Festival highlights
Highlights include performances by Toshiiwai-ren groups marking their 42nd and 25th years, the Esashi Shishi-odori “Hyakushika Daigunbu,” featuring 100 dancers in motion, and the Esashi Jinku Grand Parade, in which more than 1,000 local residents dance.
A children’s Jinku dance parade and a joint procession of neighborhood yatai are also held, with participation from different generations bringing the festival to life.
The Grand Parade, which winds through town to the sound of Esashi Jinku, is presented as an event where you can join in the dancing, not just watch.
Source: 第53回江刺甚句まつり 「江刺甚句大パレード」参加団体を募集します／奥州市公式ホームページ
A spring festival where Esashi Jinku and shishi-odori bring the community together
What to expect
The festival consists of the evening festival on May 3 and the main festival on May 4.
The program includes a children’s Jinku dance parade, a joint procession of neighborhood yatai, performances by Toshiiwai-ren groups, the Esashi Shishi-odori “Hyakushika Daigunbu,” and a joint presentation of neighborhood yatai.
In the evening on May 4, the Esashi Jinku Grand Parade takes place, with participants dancing as they make their way from Muikamachi in Esashi to the Omatsuri Hiroba.
How to take part
General participation is offered through group entry in the Esashi Jinku Grand Parade.
Workplaces, schools, clubs, and other groups can take part in an event where participants dance as they parade through town.
Check the event information to confirm whether individuals may participate and what conditions apply to taking part in events other than the parade.
To take part in the 2026 Esashi Jinku Grand Parade, groups must complete the designated application form with details such as the group name, expected number of participants, representative’s address and name, and contact information.
Applications were accepted by fax or email, and had to arrive by April 17.
Each group prepares its own costumes and signs identifying the group, and holds its own dance practices.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Oshu City, Esashi, including Odori Park.
The Grand Parade runs from Muikamachi in Esashi, Oshu City, to the Omatsuri Hiroba (Odori Park, Esashi).
- Train and bus
About 10 minutes by car from Mizusawa-Esashi Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
- By car
The venue is about 10 minutes by car from Mizusawa-Esashi Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
- Parking
Parking is available at the Esashi General Branch Office and JA Esashi Head Office.
Heavy congestion is expected around the venue, and free shuttle buses will run from JA Esashi Main Office.
Event venue 岩手県奥州市 奥州市江刺 大通り公園
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, it was held on May 3 (Sunday, a public holiday) and May 4 (Monday, a public holiday).
The event was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 3, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 4.
The Esashi Jinku Grand Parade was scheduled to take place from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on May 4.
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 Iwate Prefecture / Oshu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Heavy congestion is expected around the venue on the day of the festival.
If you come by car, use the designated parking at the Esashi General Branch Office or JA Esashi Head Office. The free shuttle bus from JA Esashi Main Office is another option.
The Grand Parade proceeds along the road from Muikamachi to Odori Park, so be mindful of the flow of people when moving between viewing spots.
Nearby attractions
The Esashi Jinku Festival is held in collaboration with attractions such as Esashi Fujiwara no Sato Historical Park, the Esashi Local Culture Museum, the Meiji Memorial Hall, the Kazuo Kikuta Memorial Museum, and Kuramachi Mall.
You can also enjoy visiting facilities connected to Esashi’s history and local culture alongside the festival.
Check each facility’s opening status and detailed visitor information individually before your visit.
えさし藤原の郷
岩手県奥州市江刺にある平安時代のテーマパーク
写真：Kano / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
奥州市牛の博物館
岩手県奥州市前沢にある博物館
写真：Okayamakunio / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
胆沢城
岩手県奥州市にあった古代城柵
写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
菊田一夫記念館
岩手県奥州市にある資料館
写真：Ty19080914 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
駒形神社
岩手県奥州市にある神社
写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Esashi Jinku Festival
The festival originated in the Hibuse Festival, held in the fire-prone Iwayado area to pray for recovery and protection from fires.
Rooted in the Hibuse Festival, the event evolved through the Oyama Festival in the Meiji period, costume parades in the Taisho period, and door-to-door dances in the Showa period, before becoming a festival for the whole community in Showa 49.
Esashi Jinku dancing is still passed down through singing and dancing, with Toshiiwai-ren groups and neighborhood yatai at its heart.
Source: 起源・歴史・発祥 | 江刺甚句まつり公式サイト
Official information
Details about the festival, venues, parking, and events on the day are available on the official Oshu City website.
The Esashi Jinku Festival official website covers the dance’s traditions, origins and history, as well as efforts to make the festival participatory.
For applications to join the 2026 Grand Parade, the official Oshu City recruitment page has a link to the application form.
Esashi Jinku Festival at a Glance
The Esashi Jinku Festival is a spring festival rooted in the Hibuse Festival, where residents of Esashi take part through dance and traditional performing arts.
Highlights include performances by Toshiiwai-ren groups, the Esashi Shishi-odori “Hyakushika Daigunbu,” neighborhood yatai, children’s Jinku dancing, and a large-scale Jinku parade.
In 2026, the festival was held on May 3 and 4, centered around Odori Park.
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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