Name: Iizaka Kenka Festival
Start: 2026-10-02
End: 2026-10-04
Location: In Iizaka, at Iizaka Hachiman Shrine

An autumn held at Iizaka Hachiman Shrine in Iizaka, Fukushima City. A and from six neighborhoods feature in the festival; during the return to the shrine on the middle day, the dashi clash fiercely in the . This locally rooted Iizaka Onsen festival carries on a tradition of around 300 years.

About Iizaka Kenka Festival

Iizaka Kenka Festival is an autumn reisai held at Iizaka Hachiman Shrine in Iizaka, Fukushima City.

Once a festival where people prayed to the god of war for success in contests, it is now carried on as an event to give thanks for bountiful harvests and pray for the prosperity of and other worshippers.

Six neighborhoods in Iizaka each bring out a dashi, and the festival unfolds mainly in the hot-spring district over three days: the eve, main festival day, and post-festival day.

Source: 飯坂けんか祭り - Wikipedia

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the mikoshi’s return to the shrine on the night of the main festival day.

After the mikoshi togyo, six taiko dashi carried by young men depart from the and clash fiercely in the shrine grounds, as if trying to prevent the mikoshi from returning to the shrine.

Swaying chochin, the creaking of the dashi, and powerful taiko beats combine to create the tension unique to Iizaka Kenka Festival.

Source: 令和八年飯坂けんか祭り（八幡神社例大祭）（イベント） | 福島市観光ノート / 【八幡神社例大祭「飯坂けんか祭り」】湯の町沸騰の3日間！6町の太鼓屋台が集結 - 日刊CJ Monmo Web｜グルメ・イベント・おでかけ…福島県の街ネタをご紹介｜

A spirited return to the shrine by dashi from six neighborhoods, to the sound of taiko and beneath glowing chochin

What to expect

The festival begins with the reisai ceremony and the transfer ceremony, in which the mikoshi is moved from the honden. During the mikoshi togyo, it travels throughout the Iizaka area.

On the night of the main festival day, after the taiko dashi from each neighborhood parade through the area, they make their return to the shrine in the grounds of Hachiman Shrine.

On the final day, the post-festival rite takes place, along with the grand-finale closing taiko performance, when each neighborhood performs taiko and sets out on its final procession through the area.

How to take part

The dashi procession is organized mainly by each neighborhood’s groups of carriers, known as mikai and wakaren.

Roles are divided between those who carry the dashi from the six neighborhoods and those who watch the mikoshi togyo and the return to the shrine.

Admission is free, and visitors can attend as spectators.

Location and access

Venue and address

In Iizaka, at Hachiman Shrine (Iizaka Hachiman Shrine).

The address is 1 Aza Hachiman, Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Train and bus

Take the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line from JR Fukushima Station, get off at Iizaka Onsen Station, and walk 5 minutes.

By car

It is a 15-minute drive from the Fukushima-Iizaka IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

Traffic restrictions are in place on the festival day.

Parking

Please use the Iizaka Onsen shared parking lot.

As crowds are expected, use of public transportation is recommended.

Source: 飯坂けんか祭り（福島県／飯坂温泉）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more. / アクセス｜福島市飯坂のけんか祭り

Address 1 Aza Hachiman, Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 festival information (the listed dates have passed)

The 2026 festival was announced as scheduled to take place from October 2 (Friday) through October 4 (Sunday).

On October 2, the reisai ceremony and the transfer ceremony are scheduled; on October 3, the mikoshi togyo, shinko-sai, and return to the shrine are scheduled; and on October 4, the post-festival rite is scheduled.

The return to the shrine is announced as an event departing from the otabisho at 7:15 p.m. on October 3 (Saturday).

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

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Tips for your visit

As the return to the shrine involves dashi clashing fiercely, please watch the dramatic scenes from a safe location.

In 2026, the venue is in Iizaka and at Hachiman Shrine, and traffic restrictions have been announced.

福島県の公園・庭園のスポットです。

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：Original uploader was BehBeh at ja.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Origins and History of Iizaka Kenka Festival

Iizaka Kenka Festival is said to have a tradition spanning more than 300 years as the autumn reisai of Iizaka Hachiman Shrine.

Once a festival where people prayed to the god of war for victory in contests, it is now carried on as an event to give thanks for bountiful harvests and pray for the prosperity of ujiko and other worshippers.

The taiko style follows the tradition of Kyoto’s Gion hayashi, and a preservation society passes on the region’s traditional culture.

Official information

Official information is available on the Iizaka Hachiman Shrine official website.

The 2026 festival announcement advises checking the official website for event details.

For inquiries, contact the Hachiman Shrine office.