A traditional Wakuya competition where horses and drivers work together to overcome obstacles
Tohoku Banba Competition
The 2026 edition of Tohoku Banba Competition has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/19Ended
- Season / frequency
- Third Sunday of April / Every year
- Location
- Special venue on the Eai River riverbank at Shiroyama Park
- Area
- Miyagi Prefecture・Wakuya Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 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.
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Admission is free.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional Wakuya Town competition and the main attraction of the cherry blossom festival, where horses and drivers take on obstacles while pulling heavy sleds.
About Tohoku Banba Competition
The Tohoku Banba Competition is a traditional event held as the main attraction of the cherry blossom festival in Wakuya Town, Miyagi Prefecture.
Horses pull iron sleds and compete in strength and skill as they clear obstacles.
This is a unique Wakuya Town event that offers a sense of connection to a time when horses played an important role in farming and transportation.
Source: 第76回東北輓馬競技大会 | tbc東北放送 / 東北輓馬競技大会 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The highlight is the spectacular sight of horses weighing nearly 1 ton pulling iron sleds and overcoming steep slopes and sand obstacles.
The straight course is about 120 meters long and has 2 obstacles. The horses and drivers work in sync as they make their way along it.
The driver’s judgment in assessing how to clear the obstacles and the horse’s condition is also an important factor in determining the winner.
A traditional Wakuya competition where horses and drivers work together to overcome obstacles
What to expect
At the competition, horses pull sleds with different loads along a straight course with obstacles, racing to reach the finish line in the shortest time.
In 2026, the opening ceremony and safety prayer ceremony were scheduled for 8:30 a.m., followed by the competition at 9 a.m. The competition was expected to run until around 3 p.m.
You can watch the horses move the sleds forward step by step and overcome the obstacles.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：見学無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Special venue on the Eai River riverbank at Shiroyama Park (Shitamachi area, Wakuya, Wakuya Town, Tōda District, Miyagi Prefecture)
- Train and bus
It is a 10-minute walk from Wakuya Station on the JR Ishinomaki Line.
- By car
It is a 30-minute drive from Furukawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway.
It is also reported to take about 30 minutes via Route 346 from Sanriku Expressway Matsushima-Kita IC.
- Parking
1000 spaces; free.
Address Shitamachi area, Wakuya, Wakuya Town, Tōda District, Miyagi Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event was scheduled for April 19 (Sunday), with the competition starting at 9 a.m. and expected to run until around 3 p.m.
The opening ceremony and safety prayer ceremony are scheduled to take place at 8:30 a.m.
The event is held on the third Sunday of April each year, and is reported to go ahead even in light rain.
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 Miyagi Prefecture / Wakuya Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue is set up on the banks of the Eai River, so comfortable walking clothes suited to the ground and weather will help you feel at ease.
The 2026 event was announced as going ahead even in light rain, but since spectators watch from the riverbank, bringing rain gear is a good idea.
Free parking is available for visitors arriving by car, but be sure to watch for traffic restrictions.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Shiroyama Park and Wakuya Tenpyō no Yu.
Shiroyama Park is featured as a cherry blossom viewing spot and is a place to enjoy spring in Wakuya.
Wakuya Tenpyō no Yu is a day-use bathing facility in Wakuya Town, where you can enjoy 2 different types of hot spring water and a variety of baths.
Source: わくや天平の湯（宮城県／涌谷町）｜全国の日帰り温泉・立ち寄り湯2026｜るるぶ&more.
黄金山神社
宮城県涌谷町にある神社
写真：ChiefHira / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Tohoku Banba Competition
The Tohoku Banba Competition is said to have begun with a competition organized by the Wakuya Small Transporters Association in April 1939 (Showa 14).
It was renamed at the 18th competition in 1967 (Showa 42), and has continued since then.
The event, where horses compete in hauling strength, has been passed down as the central event of the cherry blossom festival.
Source: 東北輓馬競技大会の日程やアクセスも解説
Official information
The organizers are Wakuya Town, the Wakuya Town Tourism and Products Association, and the Tohoku Banba Executive Committee (Wakuya Town Industrial Promotion Division).
The 2026 information lists the Wakuya Town Industrial Promotion Division’s phone number, 0229-43-2119, for inquiries.
Information is provided on the event date, venue, competition start time, and transportation.
Tohoku Banba Competition at a Glance
The Tohoku Banba Competition is a traditional event that brings color to Wakuya Town’s cherry blossom festival.
You can watch horses pull heavy iron sleds and travel about 120 meters while overcoming steep slopes and sand obstacles.
In 2026, it was held on April 19 at the special venue on the Eai River riverbank at Shiroyama Park. Admission was free, and parking was available.
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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