Sendai Aoba Festival

仙台・青葉まつり

Sendai’s early-summer festival, rooted in the city’s founder, the warlord Date Masamune. On Saturday the streets fill with the suzume odori sparrow dance; on Sunday floats and armoured warriors process along the zelkova-lined Jōzenji-dōri. Held every year on the third Sunday of May and the day before.

15–16 May 2027

197 days away

Every year, the 3rd Sunday of May, minus 1 day, for 2 days

Future dates: 15 May 2027 · 20 May 2028 · 19 May 2029

Origin

The festival descends from the Sendai Matsuri, the domain’s greatest festival in the Edo period, first held in 1655 at Sendai Tōshōgū, when up to seventy floats paraded through the castle town; and from the festival of Aoba Shrine, held on 24 May, the anniversary of Masamune’s death. Long lapsed, it was revived as a citizens’ festival in 1985, 350 years after Masamune died, and since the following year has been held on the third Sunday of May and the day before.

What to look for

The highlight is Sunday’s historical procession. Between two great waves of sparrow dancers come Masamune’s portable shrine, a column of armoured warriors and twelve floats, moving from Higashi-nibanchō-dōri onto Jōzenji-dōri. The sparrow dance is said to have first been danced at the banquet celebrating the building of Sendai Castle; in 2026, 141 dance troupes took part. On Saturday night lantern-lit floats make a circuit of Jōzenji-dōri.

How to watch

The festival goes ahead in rain, though rain has called off the historical procession before (2009). Paid seating is set up along Jōzenji-dōri, priced by seat and session; in the seats, umbrellas, tripods and anything else that blocks the view are not allowed. Smoking is banned throughout the festival area.

If you go

The main venue has been Nishi Park since 2025, with the processions on Jōzenji-dōri and nearby streets. The nearest station is Kōtōdai-kōen on the Namboku subway line. In 2026 the lantern-lit floats set out at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday the 16th, and the historical procession ran from 11:40 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday the 17th. According to the organisers, a record 976,000 people came over the two days.

Where

Jōzenji-dōri, Nishi Park and central Sendai

Sendai, Miyagi

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Sources

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