Aga’s boats guiding the Gozabune; a maritime festival marked by the beat of the waving standards
Aga Okoshifune
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Mid-July (before the Itsukushima Shrine Kangen Festival on day 17 of lunar month 6) / Said to be held every year
- Location
- Enozaki Sumiyoshi Shrine, Aga Port
- Area
- Hiroshima Prefecture・Kure City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 50 min–4 h 20 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/24
The Aga Okoshifune is a maritime event passed down in Aga, Kure City, in which boats tow the Gozabune during the Kangen Festival at Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima. The boats turning in Aga Port and the sight of a child waving a standard at the bow offer a glimpse into the history of the festival that connects the local community with Itsukushima Shrine.
About Aga Okoshifune
The Aga Okoshifune is a maritime event passed down in Aga, Kure City, in which boats tow the Gozabune during the Kangen Festival at Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima.
In Genroku 14 (1701), the Gozabune was in danger of capsizing in a storm. Fishermen from Aga and Eba worked together to rescue it, and it is said that this led them to launch boats and tow the Gozabune.
Designated an intangible cultural property by the city, it has been passed down as a tradition connecting the Aga community with the festivals of Itsukushima Shrine.
Source: 阿賀のお漕船｜呉市の文化財 - 呉市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is a spectacular procession across the water, towing the Gozabune after 2 boats circle around Aga Port.
An Eba kaidenma boat leads the way, while the Aga Okoshifune tows the Gozabune toward Chigozen Shrine on the opposite shore.
At the bow, a child serving as standard-bearer waves a standard, and the sight of the rowers moving in time with its rhythm is memorable.
Aga’s boats guiding the Gozabune; a maritime festival marked by the beat of the waving standards
What to expect
First, the crew of the Okoshifune worships at Sumiyoshi Shrine in Aga.
Afterward, 2 boats circle around Aga Port and head toward Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima.
During the Kangen Festival, the is moved from the shrine sanctuary to the Gozabune. The Aga Okoshifune tows the Gozabune to Chigozen Shrine, and when it returns to Itsukushima Shrine, the shintai is placed back in the shrine sanctuary.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Enozaki Sumiyoshi Shrine, 5-chome, Agaminami, Kure City
- Train and bus
Take the local Aga Ondo-no-Seto Line bus to the “Aga Port” stop, then walk about 1 minute
Address 5-chome, Agaminami, Kure City (Enozaki Sumiyoshi Shrine)
Dates and season
- Season
Mid-July (before the Itsukushima Shrine Kangen Festival on day 17 of lunar month 6)
- Frequency
Said to be held every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hiroshima Prefecture / Kure City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
あきしお
海上自衛隊の潜水艦
Kameyama Shrine
呉市清水にある神社
入船山記念館
広島県呉市の入船山公園内にある博物館
写真：Wei-Te Wong from Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
呉市海事歴史科学館
広島県呉市にある科学館
呉市立美術館
広島県呉市の入船山公園内にある美術館
松濤園
広島県呉市下蒲刈島にある日本庭園
海上自衛隊呉史料館
広島県呉市にある海上自衛隊の広報施設
Origins and History of Aga Okoshifune
The Aga Okoshifune is said to have originated with the Itsukushima Shrine Kangen Festival in Genroku 14 (1701).
When the Gozabune returning from Chigozen to Itsukushima was endangered by a storm, fishermen from Aga and Eba worked together to rescue it. This led both communities to launch boats and tow the Gozabune.
Kure City designated it an intangible cultural property in Showa 48, October 1.
Official information
Kure City website, “Aga Okoshifune | Cultural Properties of Kure City”
Aga Okoshifune at a Glance
The Aga Okoshifune is a maritime event linking the festivals of Aga and Itsukushima Shrine. It is said to have begun after a rescue in Genroku 14 (1701).
Highlights include boats turning in Aga Port, children serving as standard-bearers waving their standards, and a maritime procession towing the Gozabune.
It is featured each year at “Tontekoton (Koshifune Festival),” held in mid-July before the Itsukushima Shrine Kangen Festival on day 17 of lunar month 6.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/24
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