Torchlight and conch shells illuminate a nighttime rite passed down in Misaki
Gohō Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year, from late night on August 14 until the early hours of the 15th / Every year
- Location
- Ryōzanji Temple
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Misaki(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 10 min–3 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Gohō Festival, passed down at Ryōzanji Temple in Misaki, Okayama Prefecture, is a traditional rite in which the Gohō guardian deity is welcomed and Gohōmi races around the late at night.
About Gohō Festival
The Gohō Festival is a spirit-possession rite passed down at Ryōzanji Temple in Misaki, Okayama Prefecture. Locally, it is called “Gōsama.”
It is a rare festival in Japan that combines Shingon esoteric Buddhism and Shugendō. The Gohō guardian deity is welcomed onto the temple grounds, and the rites proceed as prayers are offered to Gohōmi.
The festival is designated an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a nationally selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and continues to convey the faith of Ryōzanji Temple and local traditions.
Source: 護法祭｜約750年続く天下の奇祭｜両山寺（岡山県美咲町）
Festival highlights
The highlight is Gohōraku (the “play”), when Gohōmi races around the temple grounds late at night.
Possessed by a deity, Gohōmi runs through the main hall grounds, flapping their arms like a bird as torchlight illuminates them.
The sound of conch shells, shakujō staffs and drums blends with the atmosphere of prayer spreading across the mountain at night, as worshippers watch over the solemn rites.
Source: 【2026年】両山寺護法祭｜イベント｜岡山観光WEB【公式】- 岡山県の観光・旅行情報ならココ！
Torchlight and conch shells illuminate a nighttime rite passed down in Misaki
What to expect
The rites begin with an invitation to the Gohō guardian deity, followed by conch-shell signals and prayers.
Late at night, a procession heads to the Gohō Zenjin Shrine to welcome the Gohō guardian deity.
Gohōraku (the “play”) then takes place, with Gohōmi racing through the torchlight. The ceremony ends in the early hours of the following day, when the Gohō guardian deity is sent back.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ryōzanji Temple (454 Ryōzanji, Misaki, Kume District, Okayama Prefecture)
- Train and bus
It is about 20 minutes by taxi from JR Kōkō Station.
- By car
It is about 40 minutes from the Innosho Interchange on the Chūgoku Expressway.
From 8 p.m. on August 14, 2026 until 2 a.m. the following day, vehicles are not permitted around the main hall.
- Parking
The regular parking area has space for 40 standard cars and 3 large vehicles.
On the day of the festival, use the temporary parking area near Futagamiyama-sō (517-2 Ryōzanji). It is about a 550 m, 9-minute walk from the parking area to the main hall.
Address 454 Ryōzanji, Misaki, Kume District, Okayama Prefecture
Dates and season
The event was scheduled to take place from late night on August 14 (Friday) until the early hours of the 15th in 2026.
The rites begin with the evening invitation of the deity. After the conch shells sound and the deity is welcomed at night, Gohōraku (the “play”) takes place around midnight, and the ceremony concludes with the deity’s farewell at around 2 a.m. the following day.
The festival is held every year on August 14.
Accommodation and hotels PR
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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 Okayama Prefecture / Misaki (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As the ceremony takes place on the mountain grounds from evening into the late night, it is best to wear comfortable walking shoes and allow plenty of time for your visit.
The paths will be dark and crowds are expected, so carrying a flashlight at night can help you feel more at ease.
Please follow the instructions at the site to ensure the rites proceed smoothly and everyone stays safe.
Origins and History of Gohō Festival
The Gohō Festival is said to have begun in Kenji 1 (1275), when Jōjō, a monk at Ryōzanji Temple, received a divine oracle from the Gohō guardian deity.
Ryōzanji is considered to be the place with the oldest tradition of the Gohō Festival, and remains the center of the rites today.
The festival was also held at surrounding temples and shrines, though some stopped holding it in the modern era. At Ryōzanji, the faith and rites have been passed down for about 750 years.
Source: 護法祭 - Wikipedia
Official information
The Gohō Festival information on the Ryōzanji Temple official website covers the origins and proceedings of the rites, visitor precautions, traffic restrictions and temporary parking.
Gohō Festival at a Glance
The Gohō Festival, held every year on August 14 at Ryōzanji Temple in Misaki, is a spirit-possession rite in which the Gohō guardian deity is welcomed and Gohōmi races around the temple grounds late at night.
This nighttime festival features conch shells, drums and torchlight, and has a history of about 750 years.
In 2026, the event was scheduled to take place from late night on August 14 until the early hours of the 15th. Take care on dark paths and be aware of traffic restrictions.
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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