Kurikoma festival float making experience

A rare, hands-on opportunity (June–July) to assist local districts in constructing the elaborate festival floats (themed after myths and historical tales) for the Kurikoma Float Festival. Beginners can help with tasks like cutting and painting under local guidance. The experience includes interaction with locals, and those interested can join the evening konshinkai social gathering (additional fee) or help pull the completed float.

Details

Plan Price: ¥17,400 per group, per district

What’s Included: Float building experience fee, work gloves, beverages, arrangement fee

Not Included: Transportation, accident insurance, personal expenses.
*Konshinkai social gathering can be arranged for an additional fee.

Set Dates: June 1–July 27, 2025.
Weekday participation: 7:00–9:00 PM.
Weekend participation: Possible on final day.

Excluded Date: August 1, 2025–May 31, 2026*
*In August through October of 2025, a special festival float viewing event will be held. For details, please refer to separate tariff.

Time Length: Up to 2 hours

Meeting Place&Time

[Meeting Place]
Dashi-zukuri Shukaisho (77 Muikamachi, Kurikoma Iwagasaki)

[Meeting Time]
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your desired start time.

Map

Min. # of Participation: 1 person

Max. # of Participants: 10* people
*For groups of more than 10, please inquire.

Supoported Languages: Japanese
*Participants desiring English support are required to be accompanied by an interpreter. For groups of more than 10 participants who are split up over multiple districts, we recommend having a separate interpreter to accompany participants in each district.

Plan Details: On the last Saturday and Sunday of every July, the Kurikoma Float Festival is held. This hands-on experience offers the rare opportunity to help construct the floats which are paraded up and down the streets during the festival. Every year, 9 new floats representing each district are constructed, featuring scenes recreated from myths and historical tales. Join in helping one of the districts construct their float. Working alongside locals, even first timers can help out with peace of mind.

Course Details

Under the guidance of locals, help construct Kurikoma festival floats featuring themes which vary from year to year. Take part in important tasks essential to the float’s appearance yet easy enough for even beginners to successfully help with,such as cutting and painting. Receive instruction in a task befitting your skill set, then apply it to help construct the float. Requests for experiences as short as 1 hour can be accommodated.
Interaction with local people is one charm of the experience. Those who are interested can join in the koshinkai social gathering held in the evening starting at 9 PM, to further interact with the locals whom they were working alongside during the day. The completed floats are paraded about town on the last Saturday and Sunday of July. Those who are interested can join in and help pull the festival float they helped build.

*Participation is limited to 10 people per district. For groups of more than 10, the group will be split up to and sent to the float construction shacks of multiple districts.

Necessary When making a reservation

1. Lead traveler name

2. Number of guests

3. Desired date and time

Other(Notes)

– A maximum of 9 floats appear at the Kurikoma Float Festival. Experience and festival participants can be split up over a maximum of 9 locations.

– Please use caution in the event the task you are assigned involves the use of bladed tools.

– On the day of your experience, please follow the instructions of the person in charge.

Cancellation Policy: None
*Although no cancellation fee is required, please be sure to inform us as soon as possible in the event you become unable to participate. Please especially refrain from cancellations without notice (i.e., no shows).

Closing Date: 1 week prior to desired date

Operating Company: Muikamachi LLC
Email：muikamachi.llc@gmail.com

Inquiries: Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation
14th floor of the Miyagi Prefectural Government Building, 3-8-1, Hon-cho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan 〒980-8570
Tel: +81-22-221-1864　Fax: +81-22-211-2829
Email: dmo@miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Business Days: Monday to Friday
Business Hours: 8:30 am – 5:15 pm (JST)