An autumn festival in Iwamura Castle Town, where Heian-era costumes and mikoshi come together
Iwamura Town Autumn Festival
The 2026 edition of Iwamura Town Autumn Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/03 〜 2026/10/04Ended
- Season / frequency
- The first Saturday and Sunday of October each year / Every year
- Location
- Iwamura Town Main Street, Takenami Shrine, and Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Gifu Prefecture・Ena City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h–2 h 30 min · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Iwamura Town Autumn Festival is an autumn festival in which a procession of people in historical costumes carrying a makes its way through the castle town, traveling between Takenami Shrine and Hachiman Shrine. With gagaku and also passed down through generations, it offers a glimpse of Iwamura’s history and local beliefs.
About Iwamura Town Autumn Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Iwamurahirometai File:岩村町秋祭行事の神輿渡御行列01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Iwamurahirometai File:岩村町秋祭行事の神輿.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Iwamurahirometai File:岩村町秋祭行事の雅楽 01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Iwamura Town Autumn Festival is a festival passed down at Hachiman Shrine and Takenami Shrine in Iwamura Town, Ena City.
At the heart of the festival is the mikoshi procession, in which people dressed in period costumes carry a mikoshi through Iwamura Town Main Street.
It has been passed down as a local festival praying for bountiful harvests, household safety, and peace, and is closely connected to the historic streetscape of the castle town.
It is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture.
Source: 岩村秋まつり「神輿渡御行列」 | え～な恵那【岐阜県恵那市観光サイト】一般社団法人恵那市観光協会 / 岩村町秋祭行事[いわむらちょうあきまつりぎょうじ] - 岐阜県公式ホームページ（文化伝承課）
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the large mikoshi procession, featuring people dressed in elegant traditional costumes.
The procession heads from Takenami Shrine to Hachiman Shrine, then returns the following day.
The Iwamura Town Lion Dance is also performed on the first evening, with different performances presented at various locations.
It is known for bringing together the sounds of gagaku and drums, a procession moving along the historic main street, and lion dances.
Source: 岩村町秋祭行事 - Wikipedia
An autumn festival in Iwamura Castle Town, where Heian-era costumes and mikoshi come together
What to expect
On Saturday, a procession carrying a mikoshi sets out from Takenami Shrine, proceeding along Iwamura Town Main Street toward Hachiman Shrine while performing gagaku.
Upon arrival, the mikoshi is placed at the , where a religious ceremony is held.
At night, the Iwamura Town Lion Dance is performed in the streets. On Sunday, the following day, the mikoshi leaves Hachiman Shrine with the procession and returns to Takenami Shrine.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The venues are Hon-dori Street, Take-nami Shrine, and Hachiman Shrine in Iwamura-cho, Ena City.
On October 3, 2026, the procession departs from Take-nami Shrine, and on October 4, it departs from Hachiman Shrine.
- Train and bus
Iwamura Station on the Akechi Railway is the nearest station.
- By car
About 20 minutes via National Route 257 from the Ena Interchange on the Chuo Expressway.
Event venue 岐阜県恵那市 岩村町本通り
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 festival was announced as scheduled for October 3 (Saturday) and October 4 (Sunday).
On October 3, the procession is scheduled to depart Takenami Shrine at 8:30 a.m. and arrive at Hachiman Shrine at 11 a.m.
The Iwamura Town Lion Dance is performed from 6 p.m. on the same day.
On October 4, the procession is scheduled to depart Hachiman Shrine at 8:30 a.m. and arrive at Takenami Shrine at 11 a.m.
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 Gifu Prefecture / Ena City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In case of rain, the mikoshi togyo procession will be canceled.
In 2026, the procession will travel mainly along Hon-dori Street. When watching, follow directions from those around you so you do not obstruct its passage.
Shishimai performances will take place at several street venues from 6 p.m. on October 3.
If you plan to watch at different times or locations, you will also need to pay attention to how the event is progressing that day.
Nearby attractions
Iwamura Town Main Street, the festival’s setting, is part of a castle-town streetscape designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Nearby, Iwamura Castle ruins offer a chance to experience the history and scenery of the castle town.
The castle ruins park includes Taiko , the Shimoda Utako Study Hall, and Chishinkan.
All are listed as tourist attractions in the Iwamura Town area.
中山道ひし屋資料館
岐阜県恵那市にある資料展示施設
中山道広重美術館
岐阜県恵那市にある美術館
Origins and History of Iwamura Town Autumn Festival
The Iwamura Town Autumn Festival is a traditional event that has been passed down for about 400 years.
The festival is said to have begun when Matsudaira Norihisa, lord of Iwamura Domain, built the shrine buildings at Takenami Shrine in Kan'ei 8 (1631), prompting the creation of a mikoshi procession, though its origins are uncertain.
The offering of gagaku performances is said to have been established in Ansei 1 (1854), and the costumes and implements have also been passed down since the Edo period.
Official information
Details about the event, venue, transportation, and precautions in case of rain can be found in the Iwamura Autumn Festival guide from the Ena City Tourism Association.
The 2026 festival dates were October 3 and 4. For inquiries, contact the Iwamura branch of the Ena City Tourism Association.
The Gifu Prefecture official website introduces the festival’s outline and its designation as a cultural property.
Iwamura Town Autumn Festival at a Glance
The Iwamura Town Autumn Festival is a traditional festival in Iwamura Town, Ena City, centered on the mikoshi procession connecting Takenami Shrine and Hachiman Shrine.
A grand procession in elegant traditional costumes, gagaku and drums, and an evening lion dance unfold along the castle town’s main street.
In 2026, it was held on October 3 and 4. The mikoshi procession is canceled in case of rain.
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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