[KAI Akiu] Front-Row Seats for the Fan Dance: 'Sendai Aoba Festival Enthusiasm Plan' on Sale | Limited to May 15-17, 2026
Hoshino Resorts' hot spring inn 'KAI Akiu' in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, will offer a 3-day/2-night 'Sendai Aoba Festival Enthusiasm Plan' limited to May 15-17, 2026. The plan includes dance lessons from staff and joining the actual festival.
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- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 23:00
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Located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Hoshino Resorts' hot spring inn 'KAI Akiu' will offer a 3-day, 2-night 'Sendai Aoba Festival Enthusiasm Plan' from May 15 to 17, 2026, to fully enjoy the 'Sendai Aoba Festival' that heralds the arrival of early summer. The greatest feature of this plan is that you can receive a full hour of dance practice from KAI Akiu staff who are themselves dancers of the 'Suzume Odori' (sparrow dance). Furthermore, at the festival venue, you can watch from the 'Paid Viewing A-Seats' where you can experience the powerful front-row view. This is an exclusive KAI Akiu zone where you can enjoy both the day and night sessions consecutively. During the night session of the Yoi Matsuri (eve festival), there is a 'So-Odori' (general dance) at the end where spectators join the circle to dance, and you can participate using the dance you learned from the KAI Akiu dancers. With the full cooperation of the Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association, we propose a new type of travel where you don't just watch, but melt into the enthusiasm of the festival yourself, creating an experience that will remain a lifelong memory.
* The 'Sendai Aoba Festival' features the Yoi Matsuri on May 15 and the Hon Matsuri (main festival) on May 16, 2026.
## Background
The Sendai Aoba Festival is a festival that started in 1985. In recent years, it has attracted attention, such as its beautiful night view being certified as a 'Japan Night View Heritage' in 2021. Therefore, at KAI Akiu, we wanted to provide an experience where you don't just observe the festival from the outside, but deeply enter the local community. Because our facility has staff members who inherit the local culture as 'Suzume Odori' dancers, we developed this plan that merges a stay at a hot spring inn with a local experience, allowing you to join the enthusiasm of the actual performance after a preliminary lecture.
## What is the Sendai Aoba Festival?
It is one of the largest festivals in Sendai City, heralding early summer in the 'City of Trees' Sendai, and intoxicating about 950,000 people over two days. The highlight of the first day, the 'Yoi Matsuri', is the fantastic performance where lanterns are lit and the Sendai Suzume Odori is performed. The second day, the 'Hon Matsuri', features a historical scroll procession where warrior parades and luxurious Yamaboko (floats) march through.
## What is the Sendai Suzume Odori?
Its roots trace back to an impromptu dance performed by stonemasons at a banquet celebrating the construction of Sendai Castle. With a folding fan in hand, it is characterized by the dynamic feeling of bouncing lightly like a sparrow pecking at food. Thousands of citizens compete for individuality in each group (Matsuri-ren), raising their voices saying 'Sore!' throughout the town in time with the festival music.
The Sendai Suzume Odori is characterized by the use of 'folding fans'.
* The 'Sendai Aoba Festival' features the Yoi Matsuri on May 15 and the Hon Matsuri (main festival) on May 16, 2026.
## Background
The Sendai Aoba Festival is a festival that started in 1985. In recent years, it has attracted attention, such as its beautiful night view being certified as a 'Japan Night View Heritage' in 2021. Therefore, at KAI Akiu, we wanted to provide an experience where you don't just observe the festival from the outside, but deeply enter the local community. Because our facility has staff members who inherit the local culture as 'Suzume Odori' dancers, we developed this plan that merges a stay at a hot spring inn with a local experience, allowing you to join the enthusiasm of the actual performance after a preliminary lecture.
## What is the Sendai Aoba Festival?
It is one of the largest festivals in Sendai City, heralding early summer in the 'City of Trees' Sendai, and intoxicating about 950,000 people over two days. The highlight of the first day, the 'Yoi Matsuri', is the fantastic performance where lanterns are lit and the Sendai Suzume Odori is performed. The second day, the 'Hon Matsuri', features a historical scroll procession where warrior parades and luxurious Yamaboko (floats) march through.
## What is the Sendai Suzume Odori?
Its roots trace back to an impromptu dance performed by stonemasons at a banquet celebrating the construction of Sendai Castle. With a folding fan in hand, it is characterized by the dynamic feeling of bouncing lightly like a sparrow pecking at food. Thousands of citizens compete for individuality in each group (Matsuri-ren), raising their voices saying 'Sore!' throughout the town in time with the festival music.
The Sendai Suzume Odori is characterized by the use of 'folding fans'.