Yamagata Hanagasa Festival山形花笠まつり

A summer festival in which dancers holding safflower-decorated hanagasa hats move in formation through central Yamagata to the beat of hanagasa drums and the call "Yassho, makasho."

For three days each year, August 5 to 7, hanagasa dance parades fill central Yamagata. Alongside the standard women's dance "Kunpū Mogamigawa" and men's dance "Zaō Gyōkō," groups perform the hat-spinning style from Obanazawa, regarded as the birthplace of the hanagasa dance, as well as original choreographies, and there is also a corner where visitors can join in on the day.

According to the official site, in 1963 — the 1,250th anniversary of the opening of Mt. Zaō — Yamagata Prefecture, Yamagata City, the Yamagata Shimbun, the Yamagata Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others organised the "Zaō Summer Festival" to promote tourism to Zaō, and a grand Hanagasa Ondo parade held as part of it was the festival's beginning. The Hanagasa Festival was later held as an event in its own right.

Source: 山形県花笠協議会(external site, opens in a new tab)

The hanagasa dance is performed to the folk song "Hanagasa Ondo," and alongside the standard forms each group presents its own creative choreography. The festival is organised by the Yamagata Prefecture Hanagasa Council, based at the Yamagata Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with local companies, schools and groups taking part as dancers.

1. 01

   Standard hanagasa dances

   The women's dance "Kunpū Mogamigawa" and the men's dance "Zaō Gyōkō."

2. 02

   Kasa-mawashi (hat spinning)

   A dynamic hat-spinning style handed down in Obanazawa, regarded as the birthplace of the dance.

3. 03

   Hanagasa drums and the festival call

   The hanagasa drums and the call "Yassho, makasho" lead the parade.

4. 04

   Open participation

   A section of the parade is open for anyone to join on the day.

• Yamagata Hanagasa Festival第59回山形花笠まつり 1日目

• Yamagata Hanagasa Festival山形花笠まつり

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The parade takes place from evening into the night. See the official site for paid seating and open-participation details.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — hanagasa.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Watch from the roadside and do not step into the parade route.
• If joining the open-participation dance, follow the organisers' guidance.

1. 1.山形花笠まつり 公式サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)山形県花笠協議会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.花笠まつりについて(external site, opens in a new tab)山形県花笠協議会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.山形花笠まつり［お知らせ］(external site, opens in a new tab)山形県花笠協議会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.Yamagata, Yamagata - Wikipedia(external site, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Accessed 2026-09-26