Chagu Chagu Umakko Horse Festival

Chagu Chagu Umakko Horse Festival in Iwate Prefecture sees approximately 100 elaborately costumed horses ridden and led from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

Why is it called Chagu Chagu?

The name comes from the onomatopoeic “chagu-chagu” sound that the bells worn by the horses make as they are led between the shrines. The festival takes place during the rainy season, but organizers insist that the weather is always good on the Chagu Chagu Umakko.

This event was even selected as one of the 100 Best Soundscapes of Japan — yes, it’s a thing — by the Ministry of the Environment.

Schedule 2025

The horses are gathered at Onikoshi Shrine at around 8:30 a.m. and the parade begins at 9.30 a.m. They then walk — or trot — towards Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, arriving just before 2 p.m.

The event takes place every second Saturday of June. In 2025, that’s June 14.

How to get there

You could head to Morioka Station (connected to the Akita Shinkansen) to see the horses pass by, but to see the group trot along a scenic countryside path, you may want to make use of the shuttle bus.

The bus goes from Morioka Station to Takizawa (where the procession starts) in 20-minute intervals from 6:40 a.m. to 8:55 p.m. and returns to Morioka Station from 9:50 a.m. It costs ¥500 one way.