Chagu Chagu Umakko: Complete Guide to Morioka's Horse Bell Festival

Chagu Chagu Umakko at a Glance

Chagu Chagu Umakko happens once a year, and the format rarely changes. Costumed workhorses walk from a rural shrine to an urban one, bells ringing the entire way. 2026's edition ran on June 13, following the tradition of the second Saturday in June. Iwate tourism authorities had not confirmed the 2027 date at the time of writing, so check closer to spring. Watching from any point along the route costs nothing, though you'll pay for the shuttle bus to the start. It sits on Morioka's annual festival calendar alongside the city's other major dates.

• Date: second Saturday of June (2026 edition: June 13)
• Route: 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) between Onikoshi Sozen Shrine and Morioka Hachimangu Shrine
• Schedule: departs Takizawa around 9:30 AM, reaches Morioka near 1:45 PM
• Cost: free to watch; festival-day shuttle from Morioka Station costs ¥500 one way
• Nearest hub: Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line

What Is Chagu Chagu Umakko?

Chagu Chagu Umakko is a horse parade held every June in Iwate Prefecture. Roughly 70 to 100 workhorses, dressed in bright cloth harnesses, walk together from Takizawa to central Morioka. Events unfold across both rural Takizawa and central Morioka, so the mood shifts noticeably from start to finish. Each horse wears more than 700 small bells, and every step produces a soft clang. That rhythmic clatter is the source of the festival's name: chagu-chagu is an onomatopoeia for the sound the bells make as the horses move. Children ride many of the horses, dressed to match in traditional kimono.

History: Thanking Iwate's Workhorses

Horses and farmers have worked side by side in Iwate for centuries. According to the Iwate Prefecture Official Travel Guide, the region has a long-standing horse-breeding tradition that still shapes local customs today. Historical accounts describe Iwate households once sharing a roof with their horses, a closeness that helps explain the region's devotion to Chagu Chagu Umakko. Chagu Chagu Umakko grew out of a farming practice. After the exhausting work of rice planting, farmers led their horses to Onikoshi Sozen Shrine to rest and pray for their health. Sozen-sama, the shrine's guardian deity, is honored as the protector of horses. Japan's government designated the festival an Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1978. Two decades later, in 1996, the Ministry of the Environment named the bells' sound one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. That recognition matched what local farmers had already treasured for generations.

The 14-Kilometer Route from Takizawa to Morioka

This parade covers 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) between two shrines. Horses gather at Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa and depart around 9:30 AM. From there, the procession moves through rice paddies and rural back roads before reaching the edge of Morioka. Along the way, spectators often see children riding in traditional dress, a role many families treat as an honor passed down each year. Crowds thicken as the horses enter the city and head toward the finish. The parade reaches Morioka Hachimangu Shrine around 1:45 PM, where a closing ceremony marks the end of the walk.

Getting to the Festival: Shuttle Buses, Trains, and Taxis

Most visitors reach the start by shuttle bus rather than direct train. Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka Station, then board the festival-day shuttle from bus stop 16 in front of the station. One-way fare runs ¥500, with buses departing roughly every 20 minutes from 6:40 AM to 8:55 PM. That shuttle drops passengers at Big Roof Takizawa, about a 25-minute walk from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine. Return shuttles run from Big Roof Takizawa back to Morioka Station starting at 10:20 AM, departing roughly every 10 minutes until 11:10 AM. A taxi from Aoyama or Kuriyagawa Station on the Iwate Ginga Railway takes roughly 15 minutes to reach the shrine directly. If you're catching the 9:30 AM departure, book a place to stay in Morioka the night before, since the first shuttles leave before 7 AM.

• Shuttle: Morioka Station bus stop 16 to Big Roof Takizawa, ¥500 one way, roughly every 20 minutes, 6:40 AM-8:55 PM
• Return shuttle: Big Roof Takizawa to Morioka Station, from 10:20 AM, roughly every 10 minutes until 11:10 AM
• Taxi: about 15 minutes from Aoyama or Kuriyagawa Station (Iwate Ginga Railway) to Onikoshi Sozen Shrine
• Car: under 10 minutes from the Takizawa-chuo Smart IC on the Tohoku Expressway

Where to Watch: Comparing the Best Viewing Spots

Deciding where to stand matters more than most guides admit. Each stretch of the route offers a different experience, and the right choice depends on what matters most: atmosphere, crowd size, or ceremony. If you have a car or an early taxi, you can sometimes catch both the start and the finish by leaving Takizawa on one of the first return shuttles. The comparison below breaks down the three main viewing options. Standing near the start means an early wake-up but a rural, uncrowded view of the horses before the crowds build. Central Morioka works best for anyone combining the parade with other stops around Morioka's central attractions. Arriving at Morioka Hachimangu Shrine for the finish gives the clearest look at the closing ceremony, though the crowd is thickest there. Regional tourism listings from the Morioka Tourism and Convention Association include the shrine among the city's key sites, worth a slower visit once the parade disperses.

Costumes and the Riders Who Keep the Tradition Alive

Every costume is handmade, and the craftsmanship varies from household to household. Patterns and colors pass down through generations, and many families hold costume-making workshops over winter, when farm work slows. That tradition traces back to the mid-Edo period, when horse pilgrimages grew popular and dressing up one's horse became a mark of pride. Each horse carries more than 700 bells, including a distinctive donut-shaped bell worn around the neck. According to Travel Japan, that bell style was originally used to ward off wolves. Children often ride the decorated horses, dressed in kimono that match their mount's costume. Nanbu Morioka's Chagu Chagu Umakko Club organizes much of the effort behind the parade, from breeding and training workhorses to teaching costume-making skills to new generations. Outside festival season, a festival costume remains on permanent display at the Morioka History and Culture Museum for a closer look at the bells and fabric work.

Weather, Etiquette, and Mistakes to Avoid

Chagu Chagu Umakko falls squarely inside Japan's early-summer rainy season, tsuyu. Locals maintain that the weather almost always cooperates on festival day itself, even when the days around it are wet. Pack a light rain layer regardless. Check Morioka's seasonal weather guide for a fuller breakdown before booking. Humidity climbs through June, so light, breathable clothing works better than heavy layers. Around the horses, skip flash photography and loud noise. According to Travel Japan's guidance, also avoid standing directly behind a horse. Two rest stops along the route let visitors approach the horses, feed them carrots, and photograph the costumes up close. Timing causes the most common planning mistakes. Arriving at Morioka Hachimangu too early means a long wait. Arriving at Onikoshi Sozen Shrine after 9:30 AM means missing the departure entirely. Readers mapping out the rest of the year can check Morioka's seasonal event calendar to see how the parade fits alongside the city's other dates.

After the Parade: Local Food and Nearby Festivals

Morioka has its own food identity worth exploring once the parade ends. Reimen and jajamen, two of the city's signature noodle dishes, make an easy post-festival meal near the finish line. For a fuller rundown of where to find them, see Morioka's local food guide. Chagu Chagu Umakko isn't the city's only major festival. Morioka's Sansa Odori dance festival follows in early August, giving the city two distinct peak dates in a single summer. Together, June and August give Morioka back-to-back reasons to visit outside the cherry blossom and snow seasons. Travelers building a wider Tohoku festival loop have options nearby. Sendai's festival calendar covers events to the south in Miyagi. Akita's festival calendar covers the neighboring prefecture. Aomori's festival calendar rounds out a loop through northern Tohoku.