🎎 Sendai Aoba Festival

The Sendai Aoba Festival was held in 1985, marking the 350th anniversary of the death of Date Masamune, to revive the grand tradition of the Sendai festival. Today, it is one of the three major festivals in Sendai and attracts numerous tourists from both domestic and international locations, becoming a summer highlight of Sendai. The Sendai Aoba Festival takes place every May, with various activities centered around Date Masamune. Over the course of the two-day event, the "Pre-Festival" features the splendid Sendai Sparrow Dance, while the "Main Festival" includes the procession of the Aoba Shrine float, which honors Date Masamune, along with the parade of 11 Sendai floats, showcasing historical scenes. Additionally, during the festival period, two other events, "Date Connection" and "Forest City," are held simultaneously. Date Connection recreates the atmosphere of the castle town through traditional craft demonstrations, mochi pounding, shooting games, and haunted houses. Forest City, themed around the food-loving Date Masamune, gathers numerous local food vendors and products.

The festival, which was resumed in 1985, is held to commemorate Date Masamune and is one of the three major festivals of Sendai. It features a two-day celebration centered around the "Pre-Festival" and the "Main Festival." With the joyful sounds of taiko drums, attendees can enjoy the vibrant Sendai Suzume Odori (Sparrow Dance). The highlight of the festival is the parade featuring the Masamune Mikoshi (portable shrine) and 11 floats. Another major attraction of the festival is the "Mori no Ichi" (Market of the Forest), which gathers over 80 stalls.