Ebie Hikiyama Festival

Festival highlights

Highlights include the 3 hikiyama floats, each equipped with karakuri puppets.

Nishimachi’s Tōen Dōji puppet is operated by 22 silk strings. It walks and runs while beating a small drum, and transforms its face into those of a karako doll or a monkey.

When turning a corner, the float’s wheels creak as it rotates, while the young men’s shouts echo through the town.

At night, the lantern-decorated floats line up, presenting a different appearance from the daytime.

Ebie’s autumn festival, brought to life by 3 hikiyama floats and karakuri puppets

What to expect

During the festival, the 3 hikiyama floats of Higashimachi, Nakamachi, and Nishimachi are pulled through Ebie to shouts and festival music.

By day, the hanayama floats make it easy to admire their carvings, decorations, and karakuri puppets. At night, the floats process with numerous lanterns lit.

Hikiyama kiyari songs are also performed at various points along the route. The songs, associated with hauling fishing nets and raising masts, have been passed down through generations.

A highlight is when all 3 floats gather together at night.

Source: 海老江曳山まつり | イベント | 【公式】富山県の観光/旅行サイト「とやま観光ナビ」

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address

Ebie district, Imizu City (throughout the neighborhoods of each hikiyama).

Ebie Kamo Shrine is located at 197 Ebie, Imizu City, Toyama 933-0233.

Train and bus

Take the Toyama Chitetsu Bus Shinko Higashiguchi Line from Toyama Station and get off at one of these stops: Ebie-guchi, Ebie, or Nishi-Ebie.

Information is available about the AI on-demand bus Norūto Imizu from Kosugi Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway.

By car

It is about 20 minutes from Toyama Nishi IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.

Parking

A temporary parking area at Ebie Seaside Park is listed.

Address 933-0233 Ebie district, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture (Ebie Kamo Shrine: 197 Ebie)

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the event is scheduled for September 23 (Wednesday, public holiday).

The Ebie Hikiyama Festival is held every year on the autumnal equinox, and its hours are listed as 9 a.m. to around 11 p.m.

The floats appear as hanayama floats by day and lantern-decorated floats at night, so you can enjoy different scenes at different times.

As the festival procession travels throughout the neighborhood, it is a good idea to allow time to move around to see the scenes you’re interested in.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The venue extends throughout the Ebie district, so this is a festival to experience on foot along the procession route, not just around the shrine.

If traveling by car, it is a good idea to plan on going to the venue from places such as the temporary parking lot at Ebie Seaside Park.

The hikiyama procession route, traffic restrictions, and parking arrangements may change depending on conditions on the day, so check the 2026 event map before setting out.

If you plan to stay until night, check the bus timetable for your return trip well in advance.

Source: 【射水市】海老江曳山まつり2026｜開催日・巡行・駐車場と富山市からのアクセス | いみず富山みつけ

Nearby attractions

Near the festival venue is the Ebie Festival Museum.

The museum introduces hikiyama floats, lion dances, happi coats, and other local traditions, offering insight into the folk culture that sustains the festival.

Nearby attractions listed in connection with the festival include Shinminato Ohashi Bridge, the Toyama Shinminato Observation Deck, Kaiwomaru Park, and the Shinminato sightseeing boat.

If visiting alongside the festival, check each facility’s operating days and hours separately.

Source: 海老江曳山祭 - Wikipedia

Museums and art museumsImizu City

射水市大島絵本館

富山県射水市にある博物館

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

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写真：Ttaakkaco / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Facility data source

Museums and art museumsImizu City

射水市新湊博物館

富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

Photo and data sources×

写真：Ttaakkaco / CC0

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Facility data source

Attractions in the same municipality. Check each attraction’s official website for travel distances from the venue and current opening information.

Origins and History of Ebie Hikiyama Festival

The festival’s founding date is unclear, but from the mid-Edo period through the Meiji period, coastal fishing and Kitamaebune trade flourished in Ebie.

During that time, hikiyama floats were built in Higashimachi, Nakamachi, and Nishimachi, eventually developing into the 3 floats seen today.

Nishimachi’s hikiyama was built in 1841 (Tenpo 12), followed by Nakamachi in 1844 and Higashimachi in 1857.

The hikiyama kiyari songs, which preserve fishing songs, and the floats’ structures and festival music, influenced by Hojozu, also tell the story of the area.

Official information

Check the “Ebie Hikiyama Festival” page on Imizu City’s official tourism website for the 2026 event date, venue, and transportation information.

The official Toyama Prefecture tourism website also lists the event hours, venue name, address, parking, and access by bus.

The Imizu City Tourism Association’s phone number is also provided as a contact.

Ebie Hikiyama Festival at a Glance

The Ebie Hikiyama Festival is an autumn festival in which 3 hikiyama floats travel through the Ebie district of Imizu City.

It offers close-up glimpses of the town’s history and craftsmanship, including the hanayama floats by day, lantern-decorated floats at night, karakuri puppets, corner turns, and hikiyama kiyari songs.

In 2026, the festival is held on September 23, with events taking place throughout the neighborhoods.

Check information about public transportation and temporary parking, and choose the time of day you want to visit to make the most of your trip.