Events & Festivals
Soma Nomaoi Festival
The 2026 Soma Nomaoi Festival will be held May 23-25, 2026. The rough schedule is:Saturday 23: Local parades and departure ceremoniesSunday 24 (main day): Main parade, armoured horse racing, battle for the sacred flagsMonday 25: Wild horse chase at Soma Odaka ShrineSoma 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.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.
