Name: Hiyoshi Sanno Festival
Start: 2026-04-12
End: 2026-04-14
Location: Sakamoto district, centered on Hiyoshi Taisha; Lake Biwa

The Hiyoshi Sanno Festival is held in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and features traveling from the mountains into town and onward to Lake Biwa. Different rites take place on different days, including the Hana-watari Ceremony, Yoimiya Otoshi, and the boat procession on the lake.

About Hiyoshi Sanno Festival

The Hiyoshi Sanno Festival is held at Hiyoshi Taisha in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

Since the Heian period, the festival has been known by names such as Hiyoshi Festival and Sanno Festival. It has also been called the Sakamoto Festival, after the location of Hiyoshi Taisha.

Centered on the mikoshi, the festival features processions from the mountain and boat processions on Lake Biwa, linking Hiyoshi Taisha, the town of Sakamoto, and the lake.

Source: 日吉山王祭 - Wikipedia

Festival highlights

Highlights include the mikoshi procession descending a steep slope by torchlight, the Hana-watari Ceremony featuring children in armor, and Yoimiya Otoshi, during which 4 mikoshi are vigorously shaken.

On the 14th, 7 mikoshi tour the town, and 2 of them cross Lake Biwa aboard mikoshi boats.

The boat procession offering sacred offerings off Karasaki is a distinctive scene of the Hiyoshi Sanno Festival, set against the mountains, town, and lake.

Source: 山王祭について | 日吉大社

A traditional festival linking Sakamoto and Lake Biwa with mikoshi

What to expect

The festival includes a rite in which mikoshi are brought down from the inner shrine on the mountain to the East Shrine, followed in turn by the Hana-watari Ceremony, Yoimiya Otoshi, the Main Festival, and the mikoshi procession.

During Yoimiya Otoshi, the 4 mikoshi are shaken and dropped to the ground, then raced to Nezumi Shrine before proceeding to the West Shrine.

After the Main Festival, 7 mikoshi tour the town and offerings are made on Lake Biwa.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address

Events are held mainly at Hiyoshi Taisha (5-1-1 Sakamoto, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture), as well as in the Sakamoto neighborhoods and on Lake Biwa.

Train and bus

It is a 20-minute walk from Hieizan-Sakamoto Station on the JR Kosei Line and a 10-minute walk from Sakamoto-Hieizan-guchi Station on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line.

From April 12, 2026 through the 14th, traffic restrictions suspend the Hiyoshidai Line during some hours and suspend the cable-car shuttle bus; on April 13 and the 14th, the cable-car shuttle bus is suspended all day.

By car

From Kyoto-Higashi IC on the Meishin Expressway, take the Kosei Road and Nishi-Otsu Bypass, then Route 161, and continue from Shigasato Ramp on Prefectural Route 47.

It takes about 20 minutes from Kyoto-Higashi IC.

Vehicle restrictions are in place during the festival, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.

Parking

The parking lot within the Hiyoshi Taisha grounds has a maximum capacity of 50 cars.

Park-and-ride facilities recommended by Otsu City are also promoted during the festival period.

Source: 交通アクセス | 日吉大社

Address 5-1-1 Sakamoto, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture

Open in Google Maps

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

2026 Event Information (listed dates have passed)

The main rites in 2026 were listed as taking place from April 12 through the 14th.

The Horse-Day Rite takes place on April 12, the Hana-watari Ceremony and Yoimiya Otoshi on the 13th, and the Main Festival and mikoshi procession on the 14th.

The Main Festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the West Shrine, and the mikoshi procession for 2:30 p.m. at the West Shrine.

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Shiga Prefecture / Otsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

Supported by Rakuten Developers

Tips for your visit

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：On-neko / CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Origins and History of Hiyoshi Sanno Festival

The oldest record of the Hiyoshi Sanno Festival is cited in a Kamakura-period record, which notes that in Enryaku 10 (791), new mikoshi were made and carried in a procession from Sakamoto to Karasaki.

In the past, the festival was held for 4 days, from the Horse Day to the Rooster Day in mid-April. It is now held from April 12 through the 15th on the Gregorian calendar.

During the Edo period, scenes from the festival were depicted in folding-screen paintings and other works. Some traditions, including offerings made by the Tendai chief abbot, have continued even after the separation of Shinto and Buddhism.

Official information

The Hiyoshi Taisha page “About the Sanno Festival” provides information on the times and locations of the main rites and festival highlights.

For access information, including the nearest stations, walking times, driving routes, and parking, see the Hiyoshi Taisha access guide.

Information on 2026 traffic restrictions and bus suspensions is available from Hiyoshi Taisha and Kojaku Kotsu.

Source: お知らせ | 日吉大社