A practical English guide to Soma in Fukushima: the Nomaoi horse festival, the shrine and the coastal plain, with access from Fukushima and Sendai.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 07 November 2026).
Why visit
- Soma is a city on the coastal plain of northern Fukushima, and it is known across Japan for one thing above all: the Soma Nomaoi, a festival in which riders in traditional armour chase after sacred flags on horseback. It is one of the oldest and most unusual horse festivals in the country.
- The rest of the year, Soma is a quiet agricultural and coastal town, with a shrine at its centre, low hills behind it and the sea to the east. The plain is wide and open, with rice fields and small villages, and the light in the evening is the reason many people stop here on the way north.
- Soma is also a practical stop on the Tohoku line between Fukushima and Sendai, which makes it easy to combine with the coast or with the cities further north.
Top places and highlights
Soma Nomaoi
The horse festival held in late July, with armoured riders and sacred flags.
Soma Shrine
The shrine at the centre of the city and of the festival’s traditions.
Coastal plain
Open farmland and low hills, with the sea a short drive east.
Local food
Rice, vegetables and seafood from the coast, served simply.
Food and drink
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Getting there and around
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Where to stay
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Best time to visit
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Practical tips
- Festival dates and viewing arrangements change; confirm with official sources before planning around the Nomaoi.
- Accommodation near the festival sells out early.
- The coast east of the city has restricted areas; follow local signs.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train into Soma.
- Late morning: Soma Shrine and the town centre.
- Lunch: a local set meal near the station.
- Afternoon: the coastal plain and a drive east towards the sea.
- Late afternoon: back to town, or on towards Sendai.
- Evening: dinner in Fukushima or Sendai.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Iwaki Travel Guide: The Spa Resort and the Ammonite Coast
- Goshogawara Travel Guide: The Tachineputa Floats of Aomori
- Nihonmatsu Travel Guide: Chrysanthemum Dolls and a Hilltop Castle
- Ishinomaki Travel Guide: Manga, Stone and the Kitakami River Mouth
- Odate Travel Guide: Hachiko, Kiritanpo and the Akita Dog
Browse every Tohoku guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.soma.fukushima.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
- tohokukanko.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
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