Hiraiso’s traditional festival, with mikoshi and dashi making their way to the sea
Hiraiso Sansha Festival
The 2026 edition of Hiraiso Sansha Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/01 〜 2026/08/02Ended
- Season / frequency
- Around August (once every 3 years) / Once every 3 years
- Location
- Hiraiso, Hitachinaka City / within Hiraiso
- Area
- Ibaraki Prefecture・Hitachinaka City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 10 min–1 h 30 min · limited express)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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Hiraiso Sansha Festival is a festival jointly held by Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine, Tsu Shrine, and Okimatsu Shrine. A major feature is the beach descent, in which the , lion, and travel through Hiraiso and head for the temporary shrine by the sea.
About Hiraiso Sansha Festival
The Hiraiso Sansha Festival is a joint festival held by three shrines: Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine, Tsu Shrine, and Okimatsu Shrine.
Because the mikoshi travels out over the shore to the temporary shrine by the sea, the festival is also known as the Ushio Festival.
This is an Intangible Folk Cultural Property designated by Hitachinaka City, passed down in Hiraiso as a tradition connected to the beliefs and performing arts of the coastal region.
Source: 市指定無形民俗文化財｜ひたちなか市公式ウェブサイト / ひたちなか市指定文化財一覧｜ひたちなか市公式ウェブサイト
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession, centered on the mikoshi and joined by a lion performing a purification role and other pageant figures.
It travels through 5 neighborhoods in a set order, bringing the festival to life over 2 days and nights.
During the dashi procession, hand dances and calls are also performed to the music of flutes, drums, and shamisen, offering a close-up experience of local performing arts.
Source: 文化遺産データベース / 【2026】ひたちなか市 平磯町三社祭｜3年に1度の伝統ある山車祭りを楽しもう – 茨城県・今週末のイベント情報&花火大会＆お祭り
Hiraiso’s traditional festival, with mikoshi and dashi making their way to the sea
What to expect
The festival begins as the mikoshi departs from Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine. At Tsu Shrine and Okimatsu Shrine, rituals are held to pray for bountiful harvests, good catches, and safety.
After that, led by the lion, the procession travels through 5 neighborhoods and proceeds to the temporary shrine by the sea.
Visitors can enjoy the locally passed-down festival music, dances, and calls while watching the pageant figures and dashi in motion throughout the day and night.
How to take part
The festival procession and rituals are carried out by local preservation societies and neighborhood associations.
Visitors can watch the mikoshi, lion, dashi, and festival music in Hiraiso.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Held within Hiraiso-cho, Hitachinaka City, in the Hiraiso-cho area.
- By car
Traffic restrictions are in effect on nearby roads on the day of the festival, so take care when travelling to the event.
Address Hiraiso, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
The festival was scheduled to be held on August 1 (Saturday) and the 2nd (Sunday) in 2026.
The Hiraiso Sansha Festival is said to be held once every 3 years.
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 Ibaraki Prefecture / Hitachinaka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Traffic restrictions and congestion are expected on roads around the area on the day of the festival, so those arriving by car should pay attention to traffic conditions.
Parking on the street or parking without authorization is prohibited.
Nearby attractions
国営ひたち海浜公園
茨城県ひたちなか市にある国営公園
酒列磯前神社
茨城県ひたちなか市にある神社
Origins and History of Hiraiso Sansha Festival
The Sansha Festival is a joint festival held by Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine in the Isomae area of the former town of Hiraiso, Tsu Shrine, and Okimatsu Shrine.
According to the history of Okimatsu Shrine, a ritual in which the sacred objects of the three shrines were placed in a mikoshi is said to have taken place during the Oei era, pointing to the festival’s ancient origins.
The festival’s current form is based on the “Hiraiso Village Three Shrines Festival Regulations” of Meiji 9, and the rotating duty system held once every 3 years was established in Showa 48.
Official information
The Hiraiso Sansha Festival is introduced as a city-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property in the designated cultural properties guide on the official Hitachinaka City website.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Database also lists an overview and history of the festival held in Hiraiso.
Hiraiso Sansha Festival at a Glance
The Hiraiso Sansha Festival is a traditional festival in Hiraiso, distinguished by the beach descent, in which the mikoshi from the three shrines head for the temporary shrine by the sea.
Lions, pageant figures, and dashi travel through 5 neighborhoods, while festival music, dances, and calls bring the celebration to life.
As the festival is held once every 3 years, in festival years visitors can focus on the procession through the neighborhoods and the performing arts passed down in the coastal region.
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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