A spring festival honoring Saitō Dōsan, with mikoshi and music bringing the city to life
Dōsan Festival
The 2026 edition of Dōsan Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/04 〜 2026/04/05Ended
- Season / frequency
- The first Saturday of April and the following Sunday each year / Once a year
- Location
- Throughout central Gifu City (including Kōen Park, Yanagase, and Kandamachi)
- Area
- Gifu Prefecture・Gifu City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h–2 h 30 min · 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Some activities are free. No admission fee for the festival as a whole is listed.
- Age restrictions
- Activities for elementary school students are available. Preschool-aged children must take part with a parent or guardian.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Dōsan Festival honors Saitō Dōsan and is a spring festival featuring parades and local events in central Gifu City.
About Dōsan Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 先従隗始 File:Jurinzan Jōzai-ji Temple 20220403 01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 先従隗始 File:Jurinzan Jōzai-ji Temple 20220403 02.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Dōsan Festival is a spring festival honoring the warlord Saitō Dōsan, who contributed to the development of Gifu.
Mikoshi parades, a marching band parade, and local events take place throughout central Gifu City.
The festival also supports the Gifu Festival, with venues across several parts of the city, including Kōen Park, Yanagase, and Kandamachi.
A memorial service is also held at Jōzaiji, which is associated with Dōsan.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the mikoshi parade, where each group brings out its proud mikoshi.
On Nagarabashi-dori, you can enjoy the mikoshi procession and the energy of its participants up close.
At Kōen Park, visitors can try activities for children, such as archery and samurai armor dressing; in Yanagase, there is also a local products fair and café menu items for sale.
A memorial service for Saitō Dōsan and a display of his portrait are also scheduled at Jōzaiji, offering a chance to learn about the festival's history.
A spring festival honoring Saitō Dōsan, with mikoshi and music bringing the city to life
What to expect
The festival is organized across several areas, with a variety of events to enjoy.
The mikoshi parade takes place on Nagarabashi-dori; Kōen Park hosts kids' events and café activities; and Dōsan Rakuichi and shopping street events are held in Yanagase.
Stages in front of JR Gifu Station are scheduled to feature performances by samurai groups, Japanese drums, , , and more.
Visitors can also take part in hands-on activities, including building a castle with about 10,000 paper cups and a running class.
How to take part
General visitors can watch events at each venue and take part in activities open to everyone.
Anyone can join the paper-cup castle-building activity, provided that preschool-aged children take part with a parent or guardian.
The running class for elementary school students requires advance booking.
No participation requirements for the mikoshi parade are provided for general visitors.
The paper-cup castle-building activity is open to everyone on the day, free of charge.
The Dōsan running class for elementary school students is free, but requires advance booking.
Rain arrangements and participation requirements vary by event.
No information is provided on how to participate as a group in the mikoshi parade.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Throughout central Gifu City (including Kōen Park, Yanagase, and Kandamachi).
The address is given as the central urban area of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture.
- Train and bus
About 15 minutes from JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station.
- By car
Traffic restrictions apply in some areas of central Gifu City.
Check the details of traffic restrictions for each event area.
- Parking
According to the official information, there is no festival parking; visitors are advised to use private parking lots in the surrounding area.
Tourist information also lists paid parking lots in central Gifu City.
Address Central urban area of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event dates for 2026 were listed as April 4 (Saturday) and the 5th (Sunday).
The festival is held on the first Saturday of April and the following Sunday each year.
The mikoshi parade was scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 4, and the memorial service at Jōzaiji was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on both days.
Arrangements vary by event, with some canceled in rain and others held rain or shine.
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 Gifu Prefecture / Gifu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As the venues are spread across Kōen Park, Yanagase, Kandamachi, Nagarabashi-dori, and other areas, checking the location and time of the events you want to see in advance will make it easier to get around.
The mikoshi parade is scheduled to include mochi and sweets being thrown to the crowd; visitors are advised to take care to avoid injury when participating.
Some activities may be canceled in rain, so check the arrangements for the specific event you plan to attend.
Take care when traveling by car during periods when traffic restrictions are in effect.
Source: 第54回「道三まつり」交通規制のお知らせ – 岐阜まつり協賛 道三まつり｜ぎふ信長まつり［公式サイト 岐阜のまつり］
Nearby attractions
Near the festival venues, you can visit Jōzaiji Temple, which is associated with Saitō Dōsan.
The festival's memorial service and displays of portraits of Dōsan and Saitō Yoshitatsu are held at Jōzaiji.
Related spots such as Kogane Shrine and Inaba Shrine are also featured; these are places to experience the history and festivals of central Gifu City.
Source: 道三まつり｜イベント｜岐阜県観光公式サイト 「岐阜の旅ガイド」
三甲美術館
岐阜県岐阜市にある美術館
加藤栄三・東一記念美術館
岐阜県岐阜市にある美術館
写真：Douggers at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Photo source ·
名和昆虫博物館
岐阜県岐阜市にある博物館
奥の細道むすびの地記念館
日本の岐阜県大垣市にある記念館
岐阜公園
岐阜市の公園
写真：Douggers at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Photo source ·
岐阜市歴史博物館
岐阜県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：Douggers at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Photo source ·
岐阜市科学館
岐阜県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
岐阜県美術館
岐阜県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
水の資料館
岐阜県岐阜市にある上水道に関する資料館
金神社
岐阜市にある神社
鵜飼資料園
岐阜県岐阜市にある長良川鵜飼に関する資料館
Official information
Official information about the Dōsan Festival is available at “Gifu Festival Partner Event: Dōsan Festival | Gifu Nobunaga Festival [Official Gifu Festivals Website].”
You can check the 2026 venue, dates and times, activities in each area, traffic restrictions, and more.
公式サイトのURLは 公式サイトのURL です。
Dōsan Festival at a Glance
The Dōsan Festival is a spring festival honoring Saitō Dōsan, with mikoshi, music, history, and local events to enjoy in central Gifu City.
In addition to the mikoshi parade and the memorial service at Jōzaiji, children's activities, a local products fair, and café events are held at Kōen Park and in Yanagase.
The event dates for 2026 were announced for April 4 and the 5th, and the venues can be reached on foot from the station.
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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