An autumn festival in Inami, where dashi and mikoshi cross the river and harbor
Inami Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Inami Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/01 〜 2026/10/02Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on October 1 and 2 / Held annually
- Location
- Inami Hachiman Shrine, Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, and Inami Port
- Area
- Wakayama Prefecture・Inami Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 30 min–4 h · bullet train + connecting 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Inami Matsuri is the collective name for the autumn annual festivals held at Inami Hachiman Shrine and Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine in Inami Town. During the Yoimiya, process through the districts. For the main festival, and mikoshi head toward Inami Port and the Inami River. You can see offerings and processions passed down in the local community, including Saika Odori, Yakko Odori, , and dashi contests.
About Inami Matsuri
Inami Matsuri is the collective name for the autumn annual festivals of Inami Hachiman Shrine and Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine in Inami Town, Wakayama Prefecture.
The Yoimiya is held on October 1 and the main festival on the 2nd, with mikoshi and dashi proceeding through Inami Port, the Inami River, and the various districts.
At Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, Saika Odori, Yakko Odori, and lion dances are performed as offerings. At Inami Hachiman Shrine, the mikoshi and 4 dashi cross the river.
Source: 印南祭 - Wikipedia / 祭り | 印南町
Festival highlights
A major highlight is the Inami Hachiman Shrine mikoshi and 4 dashi crossing the Inami River.
On the Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine side, 6 dashi gather at Inami Port, where Saika Odori, Yakko Odori, and lion dances are performed as offerings.
Enjoy a variety of events that move from the shrines to the port and river, including dashi contests, the Higashiyamaguchi jubako lion dance, and the sound of drums.
Source: 印南祭 2026 - 印南町 お祭り・伝統行事｜和歌山情報サイト - ぐるわか
An autumn festival in Inami, where dashi and mikoshi cross the river and harbor
What to expect
During the Yoimiya, mikoshi process through the Inami and Yamaguchi districts.
On the morning of the main festival, groups from distant settlements and dashi gather at Inami Port. After shrine ceremonies and offerings, the mikoshi and dashi proceed to the .
At Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, Saika Odori, Yakko Odori, and lion dances follow; at Inami Hachiman Shrine, the river crossing and events at the otabisho continue. The festival ends when the mikoshi returns to the shrine.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Inami Hachiman Shrine, Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, and Inami Port.
Inami Port’s address is Inami, Inami Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-1534.
- Train and bus
About a 20-minute walk from Inami Station on the JR Kinokuni Line.
- By car
About a 10-minute drive from Inami IC on the Hanwa Expressway.
Address Inami Port, Inami, Inami Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-1534
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 schedule stated that the Yoimiya would be held on October 1 (Thursday), followed by the main festival on October 2 (Friday).
On the 1st, mikoshi process through the Inami and Yamaguchi districts. On the 2nd, participants gather at Inami Port and the shrines from the morning for rituals and offerings.
In the afternoon, the schedule includes the procession from Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine and the crossing of the Inami River by Inami Hachiman Shrine’s mikoshi.
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 Wakayama Prefecture / Inami Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Events take place at several locations, including Inami Hachiman Shrine, Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, Inami Port, and the area around the Inami River, so it is a good idea to check the times and locations of the offerings and processions you want to see in advance.
The Inami Hachiman Shrine mikoshi is scheduled to cross the river sometime after 2:30 p.m. and before around 3 p.m. The mikoshi on the Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine side is scheduled to arrive at the otabisho sometime after 1 p.m.
When approaching the river, harbor, or dashi procession, watch from a safe place so you do not obstruct the event.
Nearby attractions
Nearby places to visit include Inami Hachiman Shrine, Inami Hama Park, the ruins of Kanō Ōji Shrine (Tsui Ōji), and Kaeru Bridge.
You can plan an itinerary that combines Inami Hachiman Shrine and Inami Port, venues for Inami Matsuri, with opportunities to experience Inami Town’s history and coastal scenery.
Check opening status and visiting conditions for each site before your visit.
Origins and History of Inami Matsuri
At the autumn festival of Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, Saika Odori has been passed down as an important offering ceremony.
Wakayama Prefecture’s cultural information says the dance is believed to have begun around 1660, during the Manji era, and also introduces the story that it was passed down by descendants of the Saika group.
There is also a record in an old document of a request made to the Kishu Domain in 1658 for permission to perform the dance, and local districts have carried on their role in presenting offerings for many years.
Source: 山口八幡神社の秋祭 | 和歌山県文化情報アーカイブ
Official information
The “Festivals” page on the official Inami Town website provides the schedules for festivals across the town, including those at Inami Hachiman Shrine and Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, as well as details about Inami Matsuri events.
For the 2026 schedule, venues, and transport information, check the official Inami Town website and information from the Inami Town Tourism Association.
Inami Matsuri at a Glance
Inami Matsuri is an autumn festival centered on the annual festivals of Inami Hachiman Shrine and Yamaguchi Hachiman Shrine, with mikoshi, dashi, dances, and lion dances making their way through the ports and rivers of Inami Town.
The schedule lists the Yoimiya on October 1 and the main festival on October 2.
Highlights include the Inami River crossing, dashi contests at Inami Port, Saika Odori, and the jubako lion dance.
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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