Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 相馬野馬追
• Sōma Nomaoi, the grand festival of mounted samurai of Sōma

History

The Sōma Nomaoi（相馬野馬追, Sōma Nomaoi）is one of the most famous equestrian festivals in Japan. It takes place in the former territory of the Sōma clan（相馬氏, Sōma-shi）, on the coast of Fukushima. Tradition links its origins to military exercises and the hunting/tracking of horses (野馬追, nomaoi) attributed to Taira no Masakado（平将門, Taira no Masakado）in the region. Over time, the event has been structured as a grand ritual connected to the Myōken（妙見, Myōken) shrines of Sōma, known as the Sōma San-Myōken（相馬三妙見, Sōma san-myōken）.

Today, the matsuri is especially renowned for its “timeless” scenes: hundreds of armored riders katchū（甲冑, katchū）parade in procession, then compete in the armored horse race Katchū Keiba（甲冑競馬, katchū keiba）and the spectacular sacred banner hunt Shinki Sōdatsusen（神旗争奪戦, shinki sōdatsusen）at the Hibarigahara（雲雀ヶ原, Hibarigahara）site. On the third day, the ritual of capturing and offering horses, Nomakake（野馬懸, noma kake）, recalls the sacred dimension of the festival.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: a “multi-site” festival between Sōma（相馬, Sōma）and Minamisōma（南相馬, Minamisōma）. Major landmarks: Hibarigahara Saijōchi（雲雀ヶ原祭場地, Hibarigahara saijōchi）for races and banners, and Sōma Nakamura Jinja（相馬中村神社, Sōma Nakamura jinja）for departures/ceremonies depending on the day.
• Address:
  — 雲雀ヶ原祭場地: 〒975-0006 福島県南相馬市原町区橋本町4-13-27（Minamisōma-shi, Haramachi-ku, Hashimoto-chō 4-13-27）
  — 相馬中村神社: 〒976-0042 福島県相馬市中村字北町140（Sōma-shi, Nakamura, Kitamachi 140）
• Access:
  — To Hibarigahara（雲雀ヶ原, Hibarigahara）: from JR Haranomachi-eki（原ノ町駅, Haranomachi-eki）, about 10 min by taxi/car, or shuttles depending on the edition.
  — To Sōma Nakamura Jinja（相馬中村神社, Sōma Nakamura jinja）: from JR Sōma-eki（相馬駅, Sōma-eki）, about 15 min on foot.
• Date: festival over 3 days. Recent example: 2025: May 24, 25, 26 (Sat.-Sun.-Mon.).
• Date type: variable — historically rather late July, but some recent editions have been moved to late May (heat and organizational measures). The official program specifies the 3 days each year.

Schedule

The Sōma Nomaoi is experienced as a “campaign” in three acts: an opening day with departures and buildup, a central very spectacular day at Hibarigahara（雲雀ヶ原, Hibarigahara）, then a ritual day at the shrine with the capture and offering of horses. The atmosphere is unique: armor, banners (指旗, sashihata), conch shells (螺, hora) and procession discipline.

Day 1: Okuridashi（お繰り出し, okuridashi）and Yoinori（宵乗り, yoinori）. You witness the departure ceremonies (出陣式, shutsujin-shiki) and the “lining up” of the cavalry troops, then a first race sequence, Yoinori Keiba（宵乗り競馬, yoinori keiba）at Hibarigahara Saijōchi（雲雀ヶ原祭場地, Hibarigahara saijōchi）.

Day 2: the heart of the festival, Nomaoi（野馬追, nomaoi）. Early in the morning, there is the lining up (勢揃い, seizoroi), then the grand procession (お行列, ogyōretsu) towards Hibarigahara. On the field, the sequence is highly anticipated: Katchū Keiba（甲冑競馬, katchū keiba）at noon, then Shinki Sōdatsusen（神旗争奪戦, shinki sōdatsusen）where riders compete for banners falling from the sky. In the evening, a special moment may take place: Hi no Matsuri（火の祭, hi no matsuri）according to the annual program.

Day 3: Nomakake（野馬懸, noma kake）at Sōma Odaka Jinja（相馬小高神社, Sōma Odaka jinja) : water ceremony (御水取りの儀, omizu-tori no gi), entry of horses (野馬の追い込み, noma no oikomi), capture by hand by men in white (御小人, okobito), then offering of horses (御神馬の献納, goshinme no kennō). This is the most “sacred” and raw part of the matsuri.

Practical Tips

Photos

At Hibarigahara（雲雀ヶ原, Hibarigahara）, you have two “musts”: the armored horse race（甲冑競馬, katchū keiba）and the banner battle（神旗争奪戦, shinki sōdatsusen）. Bring a zoom lens (70–200 or equivalent): dust, speed, and distant subjects. Also remember to protect your equipment (dust, wind, possible rain) and avoid flash on the procession.

Weather

The festival can fall in late May (milder) or late July (heavy heat). In any case: sun + wind on the field. Prepare a cap, sunscreen, water, and a light layer in the morning if you arrive early.

Transport

On big procession days, there are often traffic restrictions（交通規制, kōtsū kisei）and limited parking. The easiest is to aim for JR Haranomachi-eki（原ノ町駅, Haranomachi-eki）for the main site, then shuttle/taxi depending on the edition. If you also want to see the departures at Sōma Nakamura Jinja（相馬中村神社, Sōma Nakamura jinja）, do so early and then switch to Minamisōma.

Visitor Tips

For the procession（お行列, ogyōretsu）, respect the etiquette announced in official documents: do not cross（横切らない, yokogiranai）and do not look down（見下ろさない, miorosanai）. For Shinki Sōdatsusen（神旗争奪戦, shinki sōdatsusen）, position yourself slightly away from the center: you will see the trajectories better and avoid the most “crowded” zone.

What to Bring

Cash (for stands), power bank, glasses (dust), poncho, towel (汗拭き, asefuki), and if hot: electrolytes. On the field, stay behind the indicated zones (安全, anzen): the horses pass quickly.

Last 5 Editions (Dates)

Sources & References

• 相馬野馬追（公式サイト）

  Official festival portal: news, videos, access, tickets/info depending on the edition.

• 南相馬市公式｜相馬野馬追

  Institutional presentation: explanation of 野馬懸 (noma kake), cultural context, and visiting landmarks.

• チケットぴあ｜雲雀ヶ原 祭場地（住所・アクセス）

  Official address of the “雲雀ヶ原祭場地” site and access landmarks (useful for logistics).

• Wikipedia（JP）｜相馬野馬追

  Additional landmarks (including coordinates of the 雲雀ヶ原祭場地 site) and historical summary, to be cross-checked with official sources.