Name: Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival
Start: 2026-10-10
End: 2026-10-11
Location: Venues across Sendai, including Kotodai Park, Nishikicho Park, Ast Nagamachi Mori no Hiroba Park, Aobayama Park Sendai Ryokusai-kan, the Datearium on the 1st floor of JR Sendai East Gate Building, AEON MALL Sendai Kamisugi, and Jozenji-dori

This YOSAKOI festival brings the sounds of naruko clappers and dancing to parks, plazas, and shopping streets across Sendai. The 2026 event was announced for October 10 and 11, with stage performances, contests, and a parade along Jozenji-dori planned.

About Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival

The Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival is a YOSAKOI-style festival held in Sendai.

The dances feature naruko clappers and songs incorporating folk music, and performances take place in plazas, parks, and shopping streets across the city.

The festival began in 1998 and was renamed “Sendai Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival” in 2024.

It is a popular autumn event where performers and spectators enjoy the streets of Sendai together.

Source: みちのくYOSAKOIまつり - Wikipedia

Festival highlights

Highlights include team performances at each venue and a contest for groups that wish to compete.

Kotodai Park hosts events such as the final stages of the general and junior divisions, while Jozenji-dori offers a parade where performers dance as they move along the route.

A time is also set aside for the “Grand Dance” during the festival, when spectators as well as dancers can join in.

Another attraction is the chance to visit different venues and see different performances at each one.

Source: Venue · アクセス｜仙台みちのくYOSAKOIまつり公式サイト

Two days of YOSAKOI connecting Sendai through naruko and dance

What to expect

At the festival, teams perform at multiple stage venues, and contests in the general and junior divisions take place.

The 2026 event was announced to have 7 venues, with a parade planned along Jozenji-dori on October 11.

You can travel between venues by subway, JR, bus, and other means, and visit different venues to see performances at different times.

The Grand Dance also gives spectators a chance to join in.

Source: 開催概要｜仙台みちのくYOSAKOIまつり公式サイト

How to take part

Spectators can freely join the “Grand Dance” held during the festival and dance alongside the performers.

To participate as a performing group, you must register as a team.

At the venues, you can enjoy watching performances and share in the festival spirit through the Grand Dance.

If you wish to perform as part of a team, apply for the 2026 team recruitment.

Applications for the 29th event were accepted through the team entry form, with the application period listed as April 18 to July 10.

General visitors can watch the performances and freely join the group dance.

Source: 参加チーム募集｜仙台みちのくYOSAKOIまつり公式サイト

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

Kotodai Park, Nishiki-cho Park, Asto Nagamachi Mori no Hiroba Park, Aobayama Park Sendai Ryokusai-kan, “Date Rium” on the 1st floor of JR Sendai East Gate Building, AEON MALL Sendai Uesugi, Jozenji-dori, and other venues throughout Sendai.

Train and bus

The Sendai Subway is a convenient way to travel between venues.

Kotodai Park is right by Exit Park 1 of Kotodai-koen Station on the Namboku Line; Nishiki-cho Park is a 5-minute walk from the same station; and the Nagamachi venue is an 8-minute walk from Exit North 1 of Nagamachi Station on the Namboku Line.

Aobayama Park Sendai Ryokusai-kan is a short walk from Exit South 1 of Kokusai Center Station on the Tozai Line. Date Rium is a 1-minute walk from the east exit ticket gates at JR Sendai Station.

By car

Traffic restrictions will be in effect around Kotodai Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 11, 2026.

You cannot exit the Kotodai Park Underground Parking Lot toward Jozenji-dori; exits are only available toward Kokubuncho-dori.

Parking

Sendai City Kotodai Park Underground Parking Lot, Sendai City Futatsumachi Parking Lot, and other parking facilities are listed.

Parking hours and fees vary by facility.

Source: 仙台市勾当台公園地下駐車場・仙台市二日町駐車場のご案内｜仙台市

Address 3-9 Honcho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and other venues throughout Sendai

Open in Google Maps

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)

The 2026 event was announced as a 2-day event on October 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday).

October 10, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; October 11, 9:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Start times vary by venue, and the festival is scheduled to proceed in rain.

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Miyagi Prefecture / Sendai City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

Supported by Rakuten Developers

Tips for your visit

Photo and data sources

写真：Tak1701d / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Origins and History of Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival

The festival’s origins date back to 1997, when a Kochi University student from Miyagi Prefecture took part in Kochi’s Yosakoi Festival and worked to establish a similar festival in Sendai.

That same year, Yosakoi dances were performed at the Sendai Festival and SENDAI Pageant of Starlight.

The first festival was held in 1998, and the contest and Jozenji YOSAKOI Parade began in 2007.

In 2024, the name was changed to “Sendai Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival.”

Official information

The official Sendai Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival website provides information about the 2026 event, venues and access, participating teams, performance schedule, and how to watch.

The event overview gives the theme of the 29th festival as “Let’s Make Some Noise Together.”

You can also check the times, locations, and access details for each venue in the official venue guide.