A summer festival in Hososhima where the spirit of the port town lives on through taikodai and a sacred procession
Hososhima Minato Festival
The 2026 edition of Hososhima Minato Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/17 〜 2026/07/19Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Location
- Around Minato Oasis Hososhima (Hososhima Commercial Port), Hososhima district, Hyuga
- Area
- Miyazaki Prefecture・Hyuga(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · flight time only)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
A port-town festival passed down through generations in Hososhima, Hyuga, Miyazaki, featuring taikodai processions and a sacred procession by sea.
About Hososhima Minato Festival
The Hososhima Minato Festival is a port-town festival passed down through generations in the Hososhima district of Hyuga, Miyazaki.
It began to mark the establishment of the town system in 1889. Held as the summer festival of Hososhima Yasaka Shrine, it features taikodai processions and a sacred procession.
The taikodai from the East and West Districts, the traveling by sea, and the big-catch flags all reflect the character of Hososhima.
Source: Events| 一般社団法人 日向市観光協会 オフィシャルサイト
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the taikodai procession, as a taikodai weighing about 2 tons makes its way through Hososhima.
The East District, a fishing community, and the West District, a merchant community, each carry their own taikodai and bring the festival to life.
In a typical year, the climactic moment is when the 2 taikodai are joined together, but the 2026 event information states that they will not be joined together.
A summer festival in Hososhima where the spirit of the port town lives on through taikodai and a sacred procession
What to expect
During the festival, the Higashi Waka Taikodai from the East District and the Minami Waka Taikodai from the West District parade through Hososhima.
Along with the taikodai being carried aloft in procession, a sacred procession also takes place, with a mikoshi from Hososhima Yasaka Shrine traveling by sea under the protection of big-catch flags.
This festival brings together port-town rites praying for safe voyages and a good catch with local taikodai traditions.
How to take part
The festival is presented as an event open to visitors from within and outside the city, so the general public can attend to watch.
The available information does not specify conditions for the general public to participate by carrying a taikodai or taking part in the ritual.
Visitors can enjoy watching the taikodai procession and the goshinko procession.
Source: 細島みなと祭り 公式ホームページ / 【祭り情報】『第137回細島みなと祭り』が開催されます！ | 一般社団法人 日向市観光協会
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hyuga's Hososhima district, centered around Minato Oasis Hososhima (Hososhima Commercial Port).
The address is 10-5 Honmachi, Hyuga, Miyazaki.
- Train and bus
It is about a 10-minute drive from Hyuga-shi Station.
- By car
It is about a 10-minute drive from Hyuga IC.
Source: 細島みなと祭り / 宮崎県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
Address 10-5 Honmachi, Hyuga, Miyazaki
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The dates listed for the 137th Hososhima Minato Festival in 2026 were 3 days, from July 17 (Friday) through the 19th (Sunday).
The venue is said to be around Minato Oasis Hososhima and Hososhima Commercial Port.
The 2026 event information states that the taikodai will not be joined together.
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 Miyazaki Prefecture / Hyuga (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
大御神社
宮崎県日向市日知屋にある神社
日向市歴史民俗資料館
宮崎県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Hososhima Minato Festival
The Hososhima Minato Festival is said to have begun in 1889 to commemorate Hososhima becoming the first town in Miyazaki Prefecture to adopt the town system.
The following year, the West District also built a taikodai, laying the foundations for the festival as it is today.
It is said that the Gion Festival rites at Hososhima Yasaka Shrine, which prayed for safe voyages and a good catch, later merged with the taikodai events to become the festival as it is today.
Source: 細島みなと祭り - Wikipedia
Official information
The official Hososhima Minato Festival website lists the dates for the 137th festival in 2026.
The notice states that inquiries are not handled by phone and that neither the Hososhima Branch Office nor Hyuga City Hall can assist with this matter.
Hososhima Minato Festival at a Glance
The Hososhima Minato Festival offers a sense of the port-town culture of Hososhima in Hyuga and the strength of the local community as it carries the taikodai.
Highlights include the taikodai procession, with its taikodai weighing about 2 tons, and a sacred procession in which a mikoshi travels by sea under the protection of big-catch flags.
The 2026 event dates are listed from July 17 through the 19th, and the taikodai will not be joined together.
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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