A festival of light, with 3 dashi bringing color to the town of shibori
The Arimatsu Festival’s dashi procession and Hotei dashi
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The 1st Sunday of October every year / Held every year
- Location
- Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine and the surrounding Arimatsu Tokaido area
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Nagoya City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Arimatsu Festival is the autumn grand festival of Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine, with 3 parading through Arimatsu, the town of shibori. By day, you can enjoy the dashi in all their imposing grandeur; at night, see the lantern-covered dashi glowing in candlelight.
About The Arimatsu Festival’s dashi procession and Hotei dashi
The Arimatsu Festival is a dashi event held as the autumn grand festival of Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine.
The shrine’s festival features 3 dashi from Higashimachi, Nakamachi, and Nishimachi.
This event carries on the region’s festival traditions, closely connected with Arimatsu’s historic streetscape and shibori culture.
Source: 有松山車まつりについて｜有松天満社公式HP / 有松祭り | 愛知県の山車まつりポータルサイト あいちの山車まつり
Festival highlights
A highlight is seeing the 3 dashi—Hotei dashi from Higashimachi, Karako dashi from Nakamachi, and Jingū Kōgō dashi from Nishimachi—being pulled along the Arimatsu Tokaido.
By day, you can enjoy the dashi in all their imposing grandeur; at night, see the lantern-covered dashi, their candlelight flickering.
Tengu and Shōjō parading through the streets are another distinctive feature of the festival.
A festival of light, with 3 dashi bringing color to the town of shibori
What to expect
During the festival, the dashi are brought out one after another and paraded through the streets across the Arimatsu Tokaido area.
Today, dashi are brought out by the 3 neighborhoods of Higashimachi, Nakamachi, and Nishimachi, featuring Hotei dashi, Karako dashi, and Jingū Kōgō dashi.
At night, the dashi are adorned with lanterns, and you can watch them parade by candlelight.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Held at Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine (Yonezuka, Narumi-cho, Midori-ku, Nagoya).
- Train and bus
A 3-minute walk from Arimatsu Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line.
- Parking
There is no parking.
Address Yonezuka, Narumi-cho, Midori-ku, Nagoya
Dates and season
- Season
The 1st Sunday of October every year
- Frequency
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 Aichi Prefecture / Nagoya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The dashi are pulled not only at Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine but throughout the Arimatsu Tokaido area.
The dashi look different by day and as lantern-covered floats at night, so it’s a good idea to plan your visit with the time of day in mind.
There is no parking, so walking from Arimatsu Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line, as indicated, is the primary option.
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Origins and History of The Arimatsu Festival’s dashi procession and Hotei dashi
The festival dates back to a pilgrimage from Arimatsu to Shinmei Shrine in Okehazama during lunar calendar: August.
After Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine became the local tutelary shrine of Arimatsu during the Kansei era, the event began to be held on day 15 of lunar month 8.
The current dashi festival format took shape from the Meiji period onward, and the contributions of shibori merchants helped develop the festival culture.
Official information
The official Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine website introduces the origins of the Arimatsu Dashi Festival, its 3 dashi, and the daytime and nighttime festivities.
Aichi Prefecture’s dashi festival portal also lists the event period, venue, parking, and rail access.
The Arimatsu Festival’s dashi procession and Hotei dashi at a Glance
The Arimatsu Festival is an event held as the autumn grand festival of Arimatsu Tenmangu Shrine, with 3 dashi pulled along the Arimatsu Tokaido.
Highlights include the processions of Hotei dashi, Karako dashi, and Jingū Kōgō dashi, as well as the lantern-covered dashi at night and Tengu and Shōjō parading through the streets.
The venue is a 3-minute walk from Arimatsu Station, and there is no parking.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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