Matsuri BiyoriCalendar of Japan's UNESCO-listed festivals

A shared illustration for this type of festival, not this festival itself. Photos are welcome.

Yama, Hoko, Yatai
Unconfirmed

Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Shinko Procession

Japanese name: 八代妙見祭の神幸行事（やつしろみょうけんさいのしんこうぎょうじ）

Yatsushiro, Kumamoto

2027

  • Mon, Nov 22

    Okudari and Oyo (in a normal year)

  • Tue, Nov 23

    Onobori (in a normal year)

Check with the organizers or local government
ABOUT

About the festival

This event is the festival of Yatsushiro Shrine (Myoken-gu), based on faith in Myoken, a deity personifying the North Star and the Big Dipper. Records show it was held by the Muromachi period, and it took its present form in the Edo period when townspeople's performances were added. Following the mikoshi (portable shrine), a procession of the game, a creature combining a turtle and a snake, kasaboko, lions, and more winds through the city.

  • The game (kida), an imaginary creature combining a turtle and a snake

  • Ornate kasaboko offered by the town districts

  • Performances by the game and lions on the riverbed

DETAILS

Key facts

Category
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals
Location
Yatsushiro, Kumamoto
Main venue
Yatsushiro Shrine, Shioya Hachimangu Shrine, and central Yatsushiro
Getting there
Yatsushiro Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line is the nearest station, and buses also run to the city center.

Sources

This description was written by Matsuri Biyori based on public information. Dates and details may change. Please check the organizers' latest information before you go. Translated from the Japanese original.

FAQ

FAQ

When is Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Shinko Procession held in 2027?
In 2027, it is scheduled for Mon, Nov 22 – Tue, Nov 23 (Estimate (unconfirmed)).
Where is Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Shinko Procession held?
It is held in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. The main venue is Yatsushiro Shrine, Shioya Hachimangu Shrine, and central Yatsushiro.
How are the dates of Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Shinko Procession set?
November 22 (Okudari descent and Oyo night) and November 23 (Onobori ascent) every year