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Aoba Festival in Photos

A weekend of Sendai celebrations!

There are four big festivals in Sendai: Tanabata, Jozenji-dori Street Jazz Festival, Starlight Pageant and Aoba Festival. Aoba is the biggest ward in Sendai, home to Aoba Castle and Sendai Station. All of the above festivals take place here.

Aoba Festival has a history spanning hundreds of years. The signature dance, Suzume Odori, is said to have been first danced by stone masons on completion of Aoba Castle just after 1600. The festival is a celebration of Sendai and of its founder, Date Masamune.

It is held once a year, over a weekend in May. Kotodai Koen Park and Jozenji-dori Avenue fill with people who come to spectate and to enjoy all the amusements and food stalls, many of which sell local food like sasakamaboko. Suzume Odori groups dance down the covered arcades. There are open-air and stage performances and a huge parade that closes the streets. If you want to experience Sendai, this is an event not to be missed.

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