Tohoku · AomoriFestival
Four nights of Tsugaru dance in a small Aomori castle town — counted among Japan’s three great nagashi-odori, and one of the few big festivals that actively pulls spectators in.
Overview
Kuroishi Yosare is built from three distinct dance forms rather than one. Nagashi-odori is the parade dance that gives the festival its national reputation; kumi-odori is a competitive form performed by troupes from the surrounding villages; and mawari-odori is a circle dance that visitors can simply join.
It has a longer ritual pedigree than most Japanese summer dances, and Kuroishi itself — a compact town with surviving Edo-period merchant streets and their distinctive covered komise arcades — makes an unusually handsome backdrop.
The Programme
- 15 and 16 August, 19:00–20:30 — nagashi-odori through the town-centre shopping streets, with dancers moving in long lines to the call of “Ettchaho, ettchaho”, followed by odori-hadari until 21:00.
- 17 and 18 August, 19:00–21:00 — mawari-odori, forming large rotating circles at the station-front plaza. This is where casual visitors most often end up dancing.
- Daytime, 13:00–16:00 — kumi-odori competitions, with troupes performing Tsugaru folk hand-dances to shamisen, taiko and song, working through to a grand-prize round.
A rock event on 14 August opens the run in some years. Newly choreographed pieces have been added alongside the traditional forms in recent editions.
Getting There
From Shin-Aomori or Aomori, travel to Hirosaki and change to the Konan Railway Konan Line for Kuroishi, about 30 minutes. The main parade route is a 10-minute walk from Kuroishi Station, and the circle dance takes place at the station-front plaza itself. By car it is roughly 10 minutes from the Kuroishi interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, with free parking at Miyuki Park (about 100 spaces) and Spocal-in Kuroishi (about 200).
Admission
Free to watch, and free to join — both the parade dance and the circle dance are open to anyone who turns up. The organising committee sits within the Kuroishi Chamber of Commerce (0172-52-4316).
Tips for Visitors
If you want to dance rather than watch, come on 17 or 18 August for the mawari-odori: the circles are deliberately open and locals will show you the steps. The parade nights of 15 and 16 August are the ones to photograph. Kuroishi has limited accommodation, so Hirosaki is the practical base — check the last Konan Railway departure before you settle in for the evening, as the dancing runs to 21:00.
Access and Map
| Dates | 15–18 August 2026 (parade nights 15–16, circle dance 17–18) |
|---|---|
| Times | Nagashi-odori 19:00–20:30; mawari-odori 19:00–21:00; daytime competitions 13:00–16:00 |
| Venue | Central Kuroishi shopping streets (Nakamachi and surrounds); station-front plaza |
| Address | Nakamachi and central streets, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture |
| Access | Konan Railway Kuroishi Station, about 10 min walk to the main route |
| Admission | Free to watch and free to join |
| Official site | Amazing AOMORI (Aomori Prefecture) |
Source: Amazing AOMORI — Aomori Prefecture official tourism site
