A traditional fire festival in Kobe Town, with 7 mikoshi rushing through the night, lit by torches
Kobe Sanno Festival
The 2026 edition of Kobe Sanno Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/25 〜 2026/04/26Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually around late April
- Location
- Around Hiyoshi Shingu
- Area
- Gifu Prefecture・Kobe Town(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.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/24
The Kobe Sanno Festival is a traditional event in Kobe Town, held at Hiyoshi Shingu, where process by torchlight. The festival is said to date back to the Heian period, and features the Asa-, , and a chikara-gami ritual.
About Kobe Sanno Festival
The Kobe Sanno Festival is held around Hiyoshi Shingu in Kobe Town and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture.
It is said to have originated in the early Heian period, when Saicho brought the spirit of Hiyoshi Taisha in Sakamoto, Omi Province, and enshrined it here. Since then, it has drawn the community’s devotion as the guardian deity of Hirano Manor (the whole area of Kobe Town).
The mikoshi procession takes place 3 times during the festival: the Asa-togyo, daytime procession, and Kangyo.
The daytime procession is no longer held.
Source: 神戸山王まつり | 岐阜県安八郡神戸町公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
The biggest highlight is the Asa-togyo, when mikoshi rush through the night, lit by torches.
The seven shrine mikoshi depart in a prescribed order, with bearers running and taking turns in a relay known as “katakawari,” as they make their way to the .
They also cross a small stream in front of the otabisho. With the and seeming to be awash in fire, the festival is known as “Kobe’s Fire Festival.”
During the Kangyo, young people compete to snatch chikara-gami and throw them at the leading Ushio-no-miya mikoshi.
Source: 神戸山王まつり[ごうどさんのうまつり] - 岐阜県公式ホームページ（文化伝承課）
A traditional fire festival in Kobe Town, with 7 mikoshi rushing through the night, lit by torches
What to expect
At the Shigakusai, the mikoshi are carried, and after the 7 mikoshi gathered at the otabisho visit Hiyoshi Shingu, they process through town.
At the Hon'gakusai, the mikoshi travel from the shrine to the otabisho during the Asa-togyo, then return from the otabisho to the shrine during the Kangyo.
The mikoshi proceed in this order: Hiyoshi Ushio-no-miya, Juge-no-miya, Omiya, Nino-miya, Usa-no-miya, Maro-do-no-miya, and Sanno-miya.
After the mikoshi arrive, all 7 shrine mikoshi gather for the “return mikoshi” procession and make their way back along the sando.
Location and access
- Venue and address
日吉新宮周辺／電車・バス：養老鉄道 広神戸駅より徒歩5分
Event venue 岐阜県神戸町 日吉新宮
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the dates listed have passed)
It was announced as scheduled for April 25, 2026 (Saturday) and the 26th (Sunday).
On April 25, the schedule lists the Shigakusai at 1 p.m., the mikoshi procession at 6 p.m., Zen'gakuin Hoin's visit to the shrine at 7 p.m., Ishihara Denbei's visit to the shrine at 8 p.m., and the sakaki ritual and the festival leader’s procession at 11 p.m.
On April 26, the schedule lists the mikoshi procession from midnight, the Hon'gakusai at 10:30 a.m., the sakaki ritual at 3:30 p.m., and the Ishihara Denbei procession, the festival leader’s procession, the mikoshi procession, and other events at 4:30 p.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 Gifu Prefecture / Kobe Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Kobe Sanno Festival
The festival is said to have originated in the early Heian period, when Saicho brought the spirit of Hiyoshi Taisha in Sakamoto to Hiyoshi Shingu and enshrined it there.
According to information from Gifu Prefecture, the Asa-togyo is said to have begun on a Monkey day in April, in the 3rd year of Enkyu (1071), during the reign of Emperor Gosanjo in the late Heian period.
The Hiyoshi Shrine reisai has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture. Its designation date is Showa 53 July 18.
The daytime procession, once held, is no longer performed.
Official information
The Kobe Town official website’s “Kobe Sanno Festival” page provides information about the festival’s origins, procession, mikoshi, schedule, and transportation.
Information about the 2026 festival is posted on the Kobe Town official website.
Source: PDF資料
Kobe Sanno Festival at a Glance
The Kobe Sanno Festival is a traditional fire festival in Kobe Town, where mikoshi from seven shrines process from Hiyoshi Shingu.
It is said to have begun when the spirit of Hiyoshi Taisha was enshrined here during the Heian period, and it has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture.
During the midnight Asa-togyo, mikoshi illuminated by torches head to the otabisho, with bearers taking turns along the way. The Kangyo also features a vigorous ritual involving chikara-gami.
The 2026 festival was announced as scheduled for April 25 and the 26th around Hiyoshi Shingu.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/24
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