Morioka Sansa Odori
MatsuriTohoku(Iwate)
Annual eventDates
2026-08-01 — 2026-08-04
Venue
Chuo-dori Street, Morioka City Center
Admission
Free
Crowd Level
CrowdedMorioka's drum and dance festival, the world's largest taiko drum parade.
Morioka Sansa Odori holds the Guinness World Record for the largest taiko drum parade. Thousands of dancers and drummers parade through the city center in a spectacular display of coordinated movement and thunderous rhythms. The festival features groups performing their own variations of the Sansa dance, creating an exhilarating atmosphere of sound and motion.
Highlights
Guinness World Record taiko drum parade with thousands of drummers; Colorful coordinated Sansa dance performances; Wa-odori (group dance) where spectators can join in
Access
JR Morioka Station, 15 min walk to the festival area on Chuo-dori Street. From Tokyo, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka (about 2 hours 15 min).
Tips for Visitors
The parade runs from 6 PM to 9 PM each evening. After the main parade, a wa-odori circle dance is held where anyone can join. The first night is usually the grandest opening performance.