A float festival in Kaminyu, held once every 5 years and carrying forward gratitude for pottery
Chawan Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Once every 5 years / Once every 5 years
- Location
- Niu Shrine
- Area
- Shiga Prefecture・Nagahama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 20 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Chawan Festival, passed down at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu, Yogocho, Nagahama City, is a float festival held once every 5 years. Its origins are said to lie in gratitude for pottery.
About Chawan Festival
The Chawan Festival is a grand festival held at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu, Yogocho, Nagahama City.
The festival is said to have begun when artisans who once made pottery in Sueoto, Kaminyu, offered pottery in gratitude for being taught their craft.
It is presented as a float festival and is also designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
It is held once every 5 years.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the float and festival-carriage procession, centered on the that serves as the festival’s symbol.
It has been passed down as a grand festival at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu and is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
Because it is said to have begun with an offering of pottery in gratitude, one of its distinctive features is not only the appearance of the floats but also the connection between pottery and local faith.
It is also notable for being held once every 5 years.
A float festival in Kaminyu, held once every 5 years and carrying forward gratitude for pottery
What to expect
The festival is passed down as a grand festival held at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu, Yogocho.
It is identified as a festival classified as a float festival.
It is also said to have begun when artisans who made pottery offered it in gratitude for the craft they had been taught.
It is held once every 5 years.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Niu Shrine · Kaminyu, Yogocho, Nagahama City
- Train and bus
Get off at Kinomoto Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line, then take a bus / Get off at Yogo Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line, then take a bus for 20 minutes
- By car
About 15 minutes from Kinomoto IC on the Hokuriku Expressway / About 20 minutes from the Kinomoto interchange
Address Kaminyu, Yogocho, Nagahama City
Dates and season
- Season
Once every 5 years
- Frequency
Once every 5 years
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 Shiga Prefecture / Nagahama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
ヤンマーミュージアム
滋賀県長浜市にある博物館
国友鉄砲ミュージアム
滋賀県長浜市にある博物館
小谷城戦国歴史資料館
滋賀県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
都久夫須麻神社
滋賀県長浜市の竹生島にある神社
長浜八幡宮
滋賀県長浜市にある神社
長浜城歴史博物館
滋賀県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
長浜鉄道スクエア
滋賀県長浜市にある鉄道保存展示施設
黒壁ガラス館
滋賀県長浜市にあるアートギャラリー
Origins and History of Chawan Festival
The origins of the Chawan Festival are told in a tradition concerning artisans who made pottery in Sueoto, Kaminyu, Yogocho.
It is said to have begun when they offered pottery in gratitude for the craft they had been taught.
Today, it is presented as a grand festival at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu and is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
It is said to be held once every 5 years.
Official information
Preservation organization: Niu Shrine Chawan Festival Preservation Society
Chawan Festival at a Glance
The Chawan Festival is a float festival held at Niu Shrine in Kaminyu, Yogocho, Nagahama City.
It is said to have begun with an offering of pottery in gratitude to the artisans who made it, and it is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
It is held once every 5 years and can be reached by bus from Kinomoto Station or by car from Kinomoto IC.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
