Events & Festivals
Soma Nomaoi Festival
The 2026 Soma Nomaoi Festival was held May 23-25, 2026.Soma Nomaoi originated some one thousand odd years ago in the Minamisoma region. It has its roots in the training of horses in the field as part of military exercises, and in the ceremony of capturing wild horses. The horses caught as part of this ceremony would be kept at the local shrine and given an almost deity-like status.The festival has gradually changed over time. Nowadays, visitors can enjoy an action-packed few days, which maintain the atmosphere of the warring states period. The main festival day features a solemn street parade, an exhilarating series of horse races, and a unique flag-catching competition on horseback. Each event is participated in by local people donning the samurai armor of their ancestors.The final day of the festival features the Nomakake event, whereby a horse is treated as a "wild horse", and chased on foot before being "captured" and praised at the shrine.Advance tickets for the Sunday racing typically go on sale in February, although tickets can also be bought on the day of the event. Since the festival is one of the Tohoku region's most popular, the race grounds are typically crowded and tickets may sell out before the start of the racing at 12pm. Visitors intending to purchase tickets on the day should arrive early to secure their space.Outside of the festival period, visitors to Minamisoma City can learn about the history and the transition of the Soma Nomaoi Festival celebrations over the years at the Minamisoma City Museum.
