Yamagata Prefecture
Dancing through downtown Sakata for 2+ hours.
Each year at the peak of summer, the streets of downtown Sakata City fill with hundreds of dancers for a night of live dancing to Sakata Jinku, the traditional folk song of this lovely port city.
This dance celebrates the golden age of Sakata City back when it was a major port for trade between the Tohoku Region and the rest of Japan. Participants dance in a large circle through the downtown area a total of four times over the course of two and a half hours.
Take a look at this festival in the highlights video shown below!
Quick Info
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
The date of this dance festival varies slightly but is always held on the first Friday of August right before the Sakata Firework Festival.
Average Duration
1-2 hours
Address
Naka St Sakata, Yamagata
Other tips
Visitors are highly encouraged to join this dance festival! The same dance is repeated four times and is easy to follow and copy. Feel free to step into the dance line during one of the breaks.
This festival is held right in the downtown area next to the Shimizuya Department Store.
