An autumn festival where a shishi, a yakko procession, and historic danjiri make their way through Hachihama
Hachihama Autumn Festival
The 2026 edition of Hachihama Autumn Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/10 〜 2026/10/11Ended
- Season / frequency
- Second Sunday of October (planned)
- Location
- Honmachi-dori, Hachihama-cho
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Tamano City(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
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
A local autumn festival passed down through generations, with a shishi leading a yakko procession, , and along Hachihama’s main street.
About Hachihama Autumn Festival
Hachihama’s autumn festival is a Tamano City-designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, carefully preserved and passed down in the Hachihama area.
A yakko procession led by a shishi is followed by a mikoshi and danjiri making their way along Hachihama’s narrow main street.
The danjiri used in the Hachihama Hachimangu Shrine festival are made of zelkova wood and feature intricate carvings. They are considered among the oldest in the prefecture.
It is an autumn event where local festival traditions and the historic townscape come together.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the sight of a procession led by a shishi making its way along Hachihama’s narrow main street.
A yakko procession carrying hasamibako (decorative boxes) and long-handled spears makes its way through the streets, followed by the mikoshi and danjiri.
The danjiri are adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes from the Nihon Shoki and the Genpei War.
A distinctive feature is the chance to see both the festival procession and the craftsmanship of the historic danjiri.
An autumn festival where a shishi, a yakko procession, and historic danjiri make their way through Hachihama
What to expect
During the festival, a shishi leads the way as a yakko procession carrying hasamibako (decorative boxes) and long-handled spears makes its way along Hachihama’s main street.
The mikoshi and danjiri follow behind, as the south and west danjiri move to the accompaniment of songs.
Local elementary and junior high school students have also taken part in playing hayashi music on and flutes.
Local people each play a role in the procession, with the children’s mikoshi following the danjiri, for example.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Honmachi-dori in Hachihama-cho, Tamano City (the stretch extending from Hachihama Port)
Address Honmachi-dori, Hachihama-cho, Tamano City
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The festival was held on October 10 (Saturday) and the 11th (Sunday) in 2026.
Hachihama’s autumn festival is listed as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Tamano City.
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 / Tamano City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
みやま公園
岡山県玉野市にある風致公園
Origins and History of Hachihama Autumn Festival
The Hachihama danjiri are said to have been made in the late Edo period. These historic floats feature carvings depicting Japanese mythology and the Genpei War.
The autumn festival procession had been suspended for about 13 years from the end of the Showa era, but the Danjiri and Yakko Preservation Association of the Hachihama Townscape Preservation Promotion Committee revived it.
Reports in 2026 said that 30 years had passed since the procession was revived.
Official information
Tamano City’s official website lists Hachihama’s autumn festival as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.
The official information describes the procession: a shishi leads the way, followed by a yakko procession, mikoshi, and danjiri making their way along Hachihama’s main street.
The danjiri, made of zelkova wood, are used in the Hachihama Hachimangu Shrine festival and are considered among the oldest in the prefecture.
Hachihama Autumn Festival at a Glance
Hachihama’s autumn festival is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property passed down in the Hachihama area of Tamano City.
A shishi, a yakko procession, a mikoshi, and danjiri make their way along Hachihama’s Honmachi-dori, conveying the character of the festival alongside the historic danjiri carvings and hayashi.
The procession was suspended for a time, but a preservation association revived it.
In 2026, the festival was held on October 10 and the 11th, with the procession making its way along Honmachi-dori on October 11.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/11
