Hachinohe Enburi Festival 2021 was canceled because of covid-19.

　The following is the event schedule for the 2020 season of the Hachinohe Enburi Festival.  

February 17 (Monday)

●Hono-Zuri (Dedicatory Enburi to Begin the Festival) 
　 at the Choja Shinra Shrine　7:00~
　 » More Info on the Choja Shinra Shrine

●Enburi Photograph Opportunity
　 at the Choja Shinra Shrine　8:00~
　 » More Info on the Choja Shinra Shrine

●Enburi Procession・Issei-Zuri・Sanpai
　  in the downtown area of Hachinohe City
　　 Enburi Procession　10:00~　(starts from the Kaji-Cho area of town)
　 　※Road Restrictions in effect from 9:30~ (Kaji-Cho Street）
　　 Issei-Zuri　10:40~11:20
　　 After the Procession (Sanpai) to the Miyagi Shrine
　 　※Road Restrictions in effect 10:20~11:40

●Go-Zen Enburi 
　in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　 12:15~

●Enburi on Stage（Tickets Req.）
　at the Hachinohe City Auditorium　
　 13:00~16:00
　 » More Info about the Hachinohe City Auditorium

●Kagari-Bi Enburi (Enburi by Firelight) 
　 in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　 ①18:00~　②19:00~　③20:00~

●O-Niwa Enburi (Enburi in the Garden) （Reservation & Tickets Req.）
　 at the Kōjōkaku Mansion
　 ①16:00~　②18:00~　③20:00~
　 » More Info about the Kōjōkaku

February 18 (Tuesday)

●Enburi Photograph Opportunity in Nejō（Entrance Fee：250 yen）
　 at the Ne Castle Site　
　 11:00~
　 » More Info about the Ne Castle Site

●Enburi on Stage（Tickets Req.）
　 at the Hachinohe City Auditorium　　
　13:00~16:00
　 »More Info about the Hachinohe City Auditorium

●Kagari-Bi Enburi (Enburi by Firelight)
　in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　①18:00~　②19:00~　③20:00~　

●O-Niwa Enburi (Enburi in the Garden) （Reservation & Tickets Req.）
　at the Kōjōkaku Mansion
　①16:00~　②18:00~　③20:00~
　 » More Info about the Kōjōkaku

February 19 (Wednesday)

●Enburi Photograph Opportunity in Nejō（Entrance Fee：250 yen）
　 at the Ne Castle Site　
　11:00~
　 »More Info about the Ne Castle Site

●Daylight Enburi 
　in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　①13:00~　②14:00~　

●Kagari-Bi Enburi (Enburi by Firelight)
　in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　①18:00~　②19:00~　③20:00~　

●O-Niwa Enburi (Enburi in the Garden) （Reservation & Tickets Req.）
　 at the Kōjōkaku Mansion
　①17:00~　②19:00~　
　 »More Info about the Kōjōkaku

February 20 (Thursday)

●Daylight Enburi 
　 in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　①13:00~　②14:00~

●Kagari-Bi Enburi (Enburi by Firelight)
　 in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　①18:00~　②19:00~　③20:00~　

●O-Niwa Enburi (Enburi in the Garden) （Reservation & Tickets Req.）
　 at the Kōjōkaku Mansion
　①17:00~　②19:00~　
　 » More Info about the Kōjōkaku

Enburi Performances by Venue

The Machiniwa Facility 　

　Feb 17 (Mon)
　　①13:30～ (Nagawachu (D))　
　　②17:00～ (Shicho (city hall) (D))
　Feb 18 (Tues)
　　①12:00～ (Joubancho (D))　
　　②17:00～ (Shiocho (D))
　Feb 19 (Wed)
　　①12:00～ (Tashiro (D)) 　 
　　②17:00～ (Higashi Tokaichi (D))
　Feb 20 (Thur)
　　①12:00～ (Uchimaru (D) )　 
　　②17:00～ (Myo (D))

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～About the Different Segments of the Enburi Festival～

For more details about the Hachinohe Enburi Festival in general, Click Here.

1)  The Hono-Zuri, Enburi Procession, and Issei-Zuri Segments

The Hachinohe Enburi begins every year on February 17 at the Choja Shinra Shrine. In the early morning hours, all 30 Enburi troupes gather at the shrine and dance, one group at a time, in front of the main hall. These dances act as an offering to the gods, and as such this portion of the Enburi festival is called Hono-Zuri (offertory dance). Watching the Enburi dancers perform their powerful and graceful dances in the clear, cold air so characteristic of the frozen winter mornings of northern Japan is a truly moving sight. After the Hono-Zuri ceremony is finished, there is an opportunity for photographers and other viewers to take pictures of the Enburi dancers up close. 

When the Enburi troupes have finished making their offerings at the shrines, they gather in the nearby Choja Festival Square. There, they get ready for the day’s big event: the Issei-Zuri, during which all of the troupes dance down the main street of downtown Hachinohe. While waiting together in the Festival Square, groups can be seen practicing and dancing the different parts that make up their Enburi ensemble.

At 10 o’clock, the Enburi groups begin to move towards the main street of downtown Hachinohe, and they perform this task by dancing their way to their designated spots. During this segment of the festival, all 30 groups are on the move and dancing passionately. It is one of the best and most exciting scenes of the whole festival. Once they have arrived at the main street of Hachinohe, all 30 Enburi troupes gather and perform at the same time during the Issei-Zuri. Each group is different in which dances they dance and the way they dance them, creating a unique and entrancing pageant of color and motion that moves throughout the streets of downtown during this highlight of the festival. 

【Hono-Zuri】　
　　at the Choja Shinra Shrine
　 　Feb 17 (Mon)　7:00~
【Photograph Opportunity】　　　　     
　　at the Choja Shinra Shrine
　　Feb 17 (Mon)　8:00~ 　　　　　     
　　(Uruichi (N), Shiocho (D))　
【Enburi Procession】
　　Choja Matsuringu Hiroba (The Choja Festival Square) ~ Chushingai (Main Street of Downtown Hachinohe)
　　Feb 17 (Mon)　10:00~
【Issei-Zuri】
　　at Chushingai (Main Street of Downtown Hachinohe)
　　Feb 17 (Mon)　10:40~

2)  Go-Zen Enburi

　Long ago, dancers performed Enburi in front of the Lord of the Hachinohe Domain. Although years have passed and times have changed, Enburi is still performed for the leader of the city, now the mayor of Hachinohe, every year during the Go-zen segment of the Enburi festival. The special honor is given to one Enburi group each year, and they dance their troupe’s traditional set of dances in front of the mayor on a stage in front of the city hall. Although Go-Zen is performed for the mayor of the city, anyone is allowed to watch and enjoy the performance as well.   

【Go-Zen Enburi】　
　　at the Area in front of Hachinohe City Hall
　 　Feb 17 (Mon)　12:15~
　

3)  Enburi on Stage

Taking place at the Hachinohe City Auditorium, Enburi performers take to the stage during this segment of the festival. With indoor stage lighting and the acoustics of the auditorium, the traditional dances and songs of Enburi can be appreciated on a whole different level. (Tickets Required) 

【Enburi Koen (Enburi on Stage)】　
　　at the Hachinohe City Auditorium 
　 Feb 17 (Mon)　13:00~16:00
　　① 13:00~14:00 (Uruichi (N))　　　　　     
　　② 14:00~15:00
　　 Children’s Enburi Performance (Haku-O Elementary & Hokuryo Junior High School)　　　　     
　　③ 15:00~16:00 (Hosogoe (D))　
　Feb 18 (Tue)　13:00~16:00
　　① 13:00~14:00 (Yamamichi (D))
　　② 14:00~15:00
　　Children’s Enburi Performance ( Nakaibayashi & Seicho Elementary School)
　　③ 15:00~16:00 (Nakaibayashi (N))
○Ticket Fee: Undetermined 

4)  Kagari-Bi Enburi (Enburi by Firelight)

Kagari-Bi Enburi takes place every night of the festival. Small bonfires are lit, lighting a stage that is placed before the city hall building so that different Enburi troupes can continue dancing deep into the night. The flickering firelight as it reflects off the beautiful decorations of the Enburi dancers creates an ethereal and magic atmosphere that can’t be felt during the day. Food and drink stalls in the area around the stage provides hot beverages and snacks to enjoy while watching the passionate Enburi dancers dance beneath the clear, bright stars of the cold winter night. 

【Kagari-Bi Enburi】　
　 in front of the Hachinohe City Hall

Feb 17 (Mon)　
　①18:00~(Yokomachi (N))
　②19:00~(Kushihikikami (D))
　③20:00~(Araya (D))
Feb 18 (Tues)　
　①18:00~(Fukudakami (D))　
　②19:00~(Okubo (D))　
　③20:00~(Joubancho (D))
Feb 19 (Wed)
　①18:00~(Nakamachi (D))　　
　②19:00~(Kamikumicho (D))　
　③20:00~(Juichinichimachi (D))
Feb 20 (Thur)  
　①18:00~(Hattaro D))　
　②19:00~(Myo (D))　　　
　③20:00~(Konakano (D))
※②：There will be a 10 min photograph opportunity

5)  Daytime Enburi 

Enburi is performed on a stage in front of the City Hall during the daytime on Feb 19 and 20. Viewing Enburi during the daytime is a great opportunity for visitors to clearly see the performance in all of its stunning beauty and artful grace. Additionally, as this segment is free and easy to get to for many visitors, it makes for one of the most accessible portions of the whole Enburi Festival. 

【Daytime Enburi】　
　 in front of the Hachinohe City Hall 

Feb 19 (Wed)　
　①13:00~(Yokomachi (N))
　②14:00~(Tashiro (D))
Feb 20 (Thur)
　①13:00~(Ishido (D))　
　②14:00~(Kensankai (D))　

6)  Enburi Photograph Opportunity in Nejō（The Ne Castle Site)

Chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles, Ne Castle was designated as a National Historic Site in 1941. The castle was built in 1334 by Moroyuki Nanbu, a military commander of the Southern Court during the period of Northern and Southern Courts. From that time, it flourished as the center of the Hachinohe region for about 300 years. The castle was reconstructed after extensive archeological research, and every year there is an Enburi photograph opportunity held within its grounds. After paying the regular 250 yen entrance fee for the castle grounds, visitors can watch and take pictures up close as Enburi performers dance with the stately and picturesque Ne Castle Site in the background. 

【Enburi Photograph Opportunity in Nejō】　
　at the Ne Castle Site

Feb 18 (Tues)　
　11:00~ (Sainokami (D))
Feb 19 (Wed)
　11:00~ (Shigechi (N))　
○Entrance Fee: 250 yen（Entrance fee for the Ne Castle Site, the Enburi performance is free to watch upon entering）　

7) O-Niwa Enburi (Enburi in the Garden)

On every night of the festival, Enburi dance troupes perform in the snow-covered garden of the Kōjōkaku mansion by bonfire-light. The Kōjōkaku was built by a wealthy Hachinohe merchant during the early 1900s and its classic Japanese architecture lends a poetic atmosphere in which to watch the festival.

While viewing the performances of the Enburi dancers up-close, guests are also treated to bowls of Hachinohe’s famous local specialty senbei-jiru, a type of chicken and wheat cracker soup, and cups of steaming amazake, a traditional rice beverage. This popular place to view Enburi requires a reservation and tickets ahead of time.  

Where

The Kōjōkaku （更上閣）
5 Motokachishichō, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori 031-0052　See Map

Performance Schedule 

Feb 17 (Mon)
　①16:00~　(Toyabe (D)、Hiranai (N))
　②18:00~　(Toyabe (D)、Hiranai (N))
　③20:00~　(Toyabe (D)、Hiranai (N))
Feb 18 (Tues)
　①16:00~　(Shigechi (N)、Nukazuka (D))
　②18:00~　(Shigechi (N)、Nukazuka (D))
　③20:00~　(Shigechi (N)、Nukazuka (D))
Feb 19 (Wed)
　①17:00~　(Hibakari (D)、Ishido (N))
　②19:00~　(Hibakari (D)、Ishido (N))
Feb 20 (Thur)
　①17:00~　(Nakaibayashi (N)、Uchimaru (D))
　②19:00~　(Nakaibayashi (N)、Uchimaru (D))

Seats Available (Venue Capacity)

120

Seat Type & Fee

Reserved Seating Only 
　Front Row (Zabuton (Japanese Seating Cushion) )　　  3,000 yen
　2nd Row (Zabuton (Japanese Seating Cushion) )　　     2,800 yen
　3rd Row (Zabuton (Japanese Seating Cushion) )　　      2,500 yen
　Last Row (Chair Seating)        　　 　　 　　 　　　　　2,500 Yen

Please Note: 

※Ticket sales will begin from Mid-January (2020) 
※Tickets will be available for purchase at Japanese convenience stores (tentatively)
※Tickets will not be available for purchase by phone or throughout the 1st-floor souvenir shop in the Youtree Building

※Further details will be updated as they are released. 

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