A Murayama dance festival where dashi floats and Tokunai Bayashi bring the streets to life
Murayama Tokunai Festival
The 2026 edition of Murayama Tokunai Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/21 〜 2026/08/23Ended
- Season / frequency
- The fourth Friday through Sunday in August / Every year
- Location
- Fureai-dōri, Tateoka Shōtengai-dōri, and Murayama Station-mae-dōri
- Area
- Yamagata Prefecture・Murayama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Admission is free.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This festival fills central Murayama City with magnificent floats and the sounds of Tokunai Bayashi. Groups perform their distinctive dances along Fureai-dōri, Shōtengai-dōri, and other streets.
About Murayama Tokunai Festival
Murayama Tokunai Festival is a local festival held in the urban area of Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
“Tokunai Bayashi,” based on festival music passed down from Akkeshi Town in Hokkaido, is at the heart of the festival.
Accompanied by gongs, flutes, large drums, shime-daiko drums, and calls, the musicians on the dashi floats and the dancers perform as one.
The “Tokunai” in the festival’s name comes from Mogami Tokunai, an explorer associated with Murayama City.
Source: むらやま徳内まつり - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
A highlight is the Tokunai Bayashi performance alongside the magnificent dashi floats.
Dancers move with energy to the lively music of gongs, flutes, large taiko drums, shime-daiko drums, and calls.
Each group has its own distinctive dance style, so you can enjoy different interpretations of the same festival music.
In 2026, joint Tokunai Bayashi performances were held on the second and third days, while the first day focused on dashi float displays and performances.
Source: むらやま徳内まつり｜イベント（村山市・村山地方）｜やまがたへの旅 - 山形県の公式観光・旅行情報サイト / むらやま徳内まつり2026｜8月21〜23日 村山市の日程・屋台・シャトルバス
A Murayama dance festival where dashi floats and Tokunai Bayashi bring the streets to life
What to expect
The festival consists of the Yoimatsuri on the first day and the Honmatsuri on the second and third days.
On the first day in 2026, there were dashi float displays, Tokunai Bayashi performances, and stage presentations, but no parade-style joint performance.
On the second and third days, groups performed together along Shōtengai-dōri, Fureai-dōri, and Ekimae-dōri.
Local vendor markets and a large outdoor market are also held at the venue, with different events to enjoy each day.
Source: むらやま徳内まつり2026 村山市
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：観覧無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Fureai-dori, Tateoka Shopping Street, and Murayama Station Front Street.
The address is Tateoka Itsukamachi, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
- Train and bus
You can walk to the venue from JR Murayama Station.
In 2026, shuttle buses ran between the festival venue and nearby parking areas on August 22 and the 23rd. The one-way fare was 100 yen, and children in elementary school or younger rode free.
- By car
It is about 5 minutes from the Murayama interchange on the Tohoku-Chuo Expressway.
Vehicles were prohibited from entering the venue during the festival.
- Parking
There is no parking near the venue, and using public transportation is recommended.
In 2026, shuttle buses ran from the temporary parking area on the 22nd and 23rd, but not on the 21st.
Address Itsuka-machi, Tateoka, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival ran from August 21 (Fri) through August 23 (Sun).
The main events took place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 21st, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 22nd, and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 23rd.
There was no parade on the 21st; joint Tokunai Bayashi performances were held on the 22nd and 23rd.
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 Yamagata Prefecture / Murayama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Roads within the venue were closed to vehicles in 2026, with restriction times varying by day.
There is no parking near the venue, and no shuttle buses ran on the 21st, so if you plan to come by car, you need to check your transportation options in advance.
The venue is smoke-free, and visitors are asked to refrain from flying or taking photos with drones.
As the festival is held outdoors in summer, measures to prevent heatstroke are also necessary.
Nearby attractions
Among the nearby spots listed in Yamagata Prefecture’s tourism information are the Mogami Tokunai Memorial Museum, Honkakuji Temple, and the tombstone of Mogami Tokunai.
The Mogami Tokunai Memorial Museum is associated with Mogami Tokunai, the person after whom the festival is named.
Honkakuji Temple and the tombstone of Mogami Tokunai are also listed as nearby spots in Murayama City, where the festival is held.
Official information
Official information is provided on the Murayama City official website’s “Murayama Tokunai Festival 2026” page.
You can check the 2026 event schedule, road closures, the telephone number for inquiries, related events, and more.
The festival’s official website is also listed.
Murayama Tokunai Festival at a Glance
Murayama Tokunai Festival is held in Murayama City, which is associated with Mogami Tokunai. Visitors can enjoy Tokunai Bayashi, based on festival music passed down from Akkeshi Town.
Highlights include magnificent dashi floats, performances on gongs and drums, and dances that vary from group to group.
In 2026, the festival ran from August 21 through the 23rd, with venues spread across streets in central Murayama City.
JR Murayama Station is convenient for getting to the festival. If traveling by car, take note of parking and traffic restrictions.
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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