Destination Spotlight

Traditional Horseback Samurai Parade

Traditional Horseback Samurai Parade

The Hamadori region is situated along the Pacific coast of Fukushima Prefecture. Located to the north of the region, the cities of Soma and Minamisoma play host to a festival held in July of every year. This is the samurai festival called Soma Nomaoi, with a history and tradition lasting over 1,000 years.


During the festival, over 400 mounted samurai carrying ancestral flags and equipped with armor present a heroic display of the Age of Warring States from Japan’s 15th and 16th centuries. Over the three days of the festival, visitors can experience traveling 1,000 years back in time in the many activities held throughout the city. Why not come and feel the energy of the Samurai Spirit that is still alive today?

Originally, the Soma Nomaoi festival began as a military drill to train strong soldiers in which wild horses were chased and captured on foot. Horses were subsequently taken to the local shrine to be treated as deities. (Soma Nomaoi has the literal meaning of 'chasing of wild horses in Soma.') Hosted by three shrines concurrently, the festival has also been designated an important intangible folk cultural asset by the Japanese government. With changes occurring over the many years, the festival is still held today, and it is now known to many as one of the six major festivals in the Tohoku region.

There are different highlights to see on each of the three days of the festival.

The first day begins with a formal opening ceremony, which is carried out concurrently at each of the three shrines according to the ancient format. The departing of the troops of the Soma clan, commanding the overall festival and once the leaders of the region, from the Soma Nakamura Shrine, is a particularly stately and solemn affair. The sound of the conch shell horn blown with great effort to signal the departure of the company echoes throughout the site, transporting the many visitors to an earlier time.

The main event of the Soma Nomaoi festival is the second day, called the 'Hon Matsuri' or 'main festival.'

The day starts with a parade of mounted samurai marching through the streets of Minamisoma City announced by the launching of fireworks that reach up into the summer sky. Here you will be able to see the heroic figures in very close quarters, filled with determination as they head towards the battleground.

Soon after their arrival at Hibarigahara, the main festival grounds, the 'Kacchu Keiba,' or 'armored horse race,' begins. With the sounding of conch shells and drums, ten horses begin traversing the 1,000-meter race circuit, ridden by mounted warriors enclosed in armor. The horses raise clouds of dust as they race along the track, as though recreating a picture scroll from the Age of Warring States right before your very eyes. The energy level of the attendees peaks at this point creating a sense of unity throughout the venue as the festival heads towards the climax.

This is followed by the 'Shinki Sodatsusen', a type of capture-the-flag competition, where the mounted riders attempt to grab falling flags launched as fireworks. Announced again with the sounding of the conch shell horns, over 400 mounted warriors gather at once at Hibarigahara. Two fireworks are launched from which two flags unfurl, and the mounted warriors compete to be the one to catch them. If you really wish to be immersed in the spirit of the festival, then you should also attend the Nomakake ceremony held at Odaka Shrine on the third day. After being released, wild horses are chased into the grounds of the shrine, where men adorned in white armor capture them bare handed for dedication in front of the shrine. This part of the festival is said to preserve the original form of the Nomaoi practice. The sight of the gallant and noble men attempting to capture the large horses with only their hands evokes a mood that is yet again different from the preceding two days.

The Soma Nomaoi is a festival with a deep history. You will likely enjoy the parades and ceremonies even more if you learn about some of that history beforehand. To learn more, we recommend visiting the Minamisoma City Museum. Here you can learn the history and some trivia about the Soma Nomaoi festival while observing the armor and weapons on display up close. Similar armor and weapons are also displayed at road stations, libraries, and other shops selling sweets or pickled vegetables in various locations throughout Soma and Minamisoma cities.

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Popular rental services include: Toyota Times Car Rental ORIX JR Rent-A-CarThese all have stores at Koriyama Station and can be reserved online in English.(Overseas visitors using rental cars must have a valid license to drive in Japan, such as an International Driver's Permit acquired in your home country..)Taking a local train as far as Nihonmatsu Station, then a taxi to the circuit, is also a potential option, since the Sideways Experience staff will pick you up from the front gate of the circuit.Helpful Links: Things to Do in Nihonmatsu City A Total Guide to the Ebisu Drift Festival Getting to Fukushima Top 10 Things to Do in Fukushima Cultural activities in Fukushima

    Hot Laps Experience at Ebisu Circuit
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    Exploring A Fukushima Footpath Course
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It’s suitable for visitors of any artistic level.This experience can be booked on the Fukushima Travel website with English support.2. Ramen-Making Experience & Kitakata Town WalkDiscover Kitakata through ramen, culture, and landscapeKitakata City is famous across Japan as one of the country’s ‘ramen heartlands’ – a city with over 100 ramen shops. Ramen is so tied to the culture here that some ramen shops even open for breakfast!In this experience offered by a local store, you’ll explore Kitakata’s ramen history first-hand, walking the atmospheric streets, seeing the traditional warehouses that make the old town so famous, and trying your hand at making your own ramen.In short, this experience is about ramen not only as food, but as a form of culture. To the people of Kitakata, that’s what ramen is – inherently tied to their day-to-day lives.In this experience, rather than making noodles, participants take on the same role as actual Kitakata ramen chefs by preparing an authentic ramen soup, under the watchful eye of a former ramen shop owner. This reflects the true structure of Kitakata ramen culture, where soup-making and noodle-making are traditionally handled by different specialists.The soup is made using naturally filtered spring water fed by the snowmelt of Mount Iide, along with locally produced soy sauce.The experience includes a guided walk through the town, learning about the history of the warehouses that were vital to the ramen creation process. 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This snowshoe hiking tour takes visitors into the famous Goshiki-numa region, renowned for its ponds that turn a variety of vibrant colours depending on the season and sunlight.Led by an experienced guide, visitors wind their way through the snowy forests of the Urabandai area, finally arriving at one of Fukushima’s great natural sights – the crystal blues and emerald greens of the waters of Goshiki-numa.For many people, the snowshoe hiking tour is something of a meditative experience. Although the guide will walk you through the region’s history and wildlife, there are portions of the trip where you’ll hear nothing but the crunching of snow beneath your feet. If you’re looking to visit somewhere with real character and no other tourists, this is the trip for you.Although guests can bring their own snowshoes, most choose to rent snowshoes on site for a small additional fee. 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This regional dish, made exclusively with local produce in artisanal cedar lunchboxes, has a rich history that evokes the workers who used to carry them to their work deep in the wilderness.The taxi then winds its way south to Ouchi-juku, one of Fukushima’s most beloved sights for its rows of thatched roofs and calming atmosphere. Some of the residents in this area have lived here and sold their wares for generations, and are as eager to welcome new visitors as their forefathers were. This was once a post town, where samurai would stop and rest on their long journeys between Aizu and the capital.You’ll be met by your guide at the important sites and given an introduction to the history of the area, making it perfect for lovers of history or those looking to learn more about Japanese culture.This is a private taxi tour, so pricing varies based on the number of participants. A standard taxi seats 1-2 guests (plus the guide), while a ‘jumbo’ taxi is used for groups of 3-8.Bookings can be made here.5. Fukushima Taxi: Disaster Memorial CourseA day to understand Fukushima’s past, present, and futureAs with the taxi tour to Tsurugajo Castle and Ouchi-juku, this course simplifies travel arrangements, offering visitors a chance to see the main sights of Fukushima’s disaster recovery for themselves.The events of March 2011 are intertwined with this part of Japan. The east coast of Japan, devastated by the earthquake and tsunami, is still recovering in many ways, although great strides have been made in the intervening years.Visitors on this course will head first to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, known as Denshokan, where they can learn more about the people tragically affected in 2011 and how the prefecture continues to move forward to a brighter future. Here is where your guide will explain more about the history as someone who is familiar with the area and can explain the facts clearly and carefully.Next is lunch at Asano Nenshi; the soft towel factory is something of a symbol of the region’s recovery, having been opened here after the disaster to encourage economic growth and provide jobs. The stylish café on the ground floor is an open, airy space that offers a variety of Japanese and Western options.The final stop is Ukedo Elementary School, a preserved site that quietly conveys the memories of the disaster. The school, barely 300 metres from the east coast, was badly hit by the tsunami, and still bears the scars of that day, but also tells the story of how all students and teachers escaped with their lives. A peaceful and thought-provoking final stop on your tour before heading back.This is a private taxi tour, so pricing varies based on the number of participants. A standard taxi seats 1-2 guests (plus the guide), while a ‘jumbo’ taxi is used for groups of 3-8.Bookings can be made here.Looking to travel more in-depth during your trip? Consider booking a guided experience and learn more about Fukushima’s rich history and culture.Advance booking is recommended. For any questions, send us a message via our contact form.

    5 Experiences in Fukushima with a Local Guide
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