An autumn grand festival whose processions carry on the prayers of eight shrines through the streets of Ayabe
Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines
The 2026 edition of Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/18Ended
- Location
- Ayabe City (throughout the former town area)
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Ayabe City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
This joint autumn grand festival involves 8 shrines in the Ayabe Old Town District, with processions from 4 shrines making their way through town accompanied by Ayabe .
About Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines
The Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines is a joint autumn grand festival held by 8 shrines in the former Ayabe town area.
Four shrines—Wakamiya Shrine, Ayabe Hachimangu, Ninomiya Shrine, and Kasahara Shrine—arrange processions featuring , a hoko, , bows and arrows, and other items.
Accompanied by Ayabe Taiko, the processions make their way through town, connecting the shrines and communities of the former town area.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the processions, each arranged by one of the 4 shrines with different implements and performances.
Wakamiya Shrine's shishimai, Ayabe Hachimangu's hoko, Ninomiya Shrine's sakaki, and Kasahara Shrine's bows and arrows, among other things, move through town to the sound of Ayabe Taiko.
A distinctive feature is that processions from multiple shrines come together for one grand festival.
An autumn grand festival whose processions carry on the prayers of eight shrines through the streets of Ayabe
What to expect
The festival features joint shrine rites involving the 8 shrines in the former town area.
In particular, 4 shrines arrange processions featuring shishimai, a hoko, sakaki, bows and arrows, and other items, and make their way through town accompanied by Ayabe Taiko.
The event information states that the from 4 shrines are scheduled to gather at Ayabe City Hall from 11:30 a.m.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ayabe City (throughout the former town area) / Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Train and bus
JR San'in Line: Get off at Ayabe Station and walk east for 10 minutes from the south exit.
Address Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
According to the 2026 event information, the festival is scheduled for October 18 (Sunday).
The event information says that the mikoshi from 4 shrines are scheduled to gather at Ayabe City Hall from 11:30 a.m.
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 Kyoto Prefecture / Ayabe City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby places include the Ayabe City Tourism Association (inside the Ayabe Tourist Information Center), the Gunze Museum and Gunze Memorial Hall, Ayabe Specialty Products Center, Ayabe Gunze Square, and Ayabe Rose Garden.
The Ayabe Tourist Information Center is listed as 0.0 km in a straight line from the festival venue; the Gunze Museum and Gunze Memorial Hall, and Ayabe Specialty Products Center, are listed as 0.6 km away.
Origins and History of Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines
The event information describes this as a joint autumn grand festival held by 8 shrines in the former Ayabe town area.
Four shrines arrange processions featuring shishimai, a hoko, sakaki, bows and arrows, and other items, and make their way through town to the sound of Ayabe Taiko.
No information is provided about the festival's origins, when it began, or how it has changed over time.
Official information
Contact: Ayabe Tourist Information Center / Phone: 0773-42-9550
Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines at a Glance
The Ayabe Old Town District Joint Autumn Grand Festival of Eight Shrines is a joint autumn grand festival involving 8 shrines in the former Ayabe town area.
Four shrines—Wakamiya Shrine, Ayabe Hachimangu, Ninomiya Shrine, and Kasahara Shrine—arrange processions featuring shishimai, a hoko, sakaki, bows and arrows, and other items, and make their way through town accompanied by Ayabe Taiko.
The venue is throughout the former town area of Ayabe City, and you can walk there from Ayabe Station.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
