Iwanai Shrine Annual Grand Festival

Festival highlights

The biggest highlight is the 2 mikoshi advancing along a bonfire-lit route before surging up Shrine Hill.

In the Akasaka Yakko procession that precedes the mikoshi procession, performers present a choreographed routine reminiscent of the processions of feudal lords traveling to Edo during the Edo period.

There is also a sea procession with the mikoshi carried on boats, as well as a procession along the national highway, offering different views of the festival by day and night.

Source: 令和８年度 例大祭について | ホーム ｜ 岩内神社 ウェブサイト

A port town’s summer festival, with 2 mikoshi racing up Shrine Hill by bonfirelight

What to expect

The festival includes the eve-of-festival celebration, the main festival, the mikoshi procession, the sea procession, and the return-to-shrine ceremony.

The 2 mikoshi make their way through town, led by the Akasaka Yakko and participants from various groups.

During the sea procession, the mikoshi are carried on boats across the water. On the final day, they return to the shrine building via Shrine Hill, along a route lit by bonfires.

Food stalls also line the town roads, adding to the festival atmosphere.

How to take part

The mikoshi procession involves parishioners, various groups, the Shrine Mikoshi Association, the Akasaka Yakko, and other participants serving the shrine.

General visitors can enjoy watching the procession through town, the sea procession, and the mikoshi rushing up Shrine Hill from along the route.

Check that year’s information for any requirements or recruitment details for general visitors who wish to carry a mikoshi.

Location and access

Venue and address

Iwanai Shrine and Iwanai Town.

Iwanai Shrine is located at 41 Miyazono, Iwanai, Iwanai District, Hokkaido.

Train and bus

It is about a 20-minute walk from Roadside Station Iwanai.

Information indicates that you can take a Chuo Bus from Sapporo and get off at “Iwanai.”

By car

It takes about 50 minutes from Niki IC on the Shiribeshi Expressway.

Some time periods during the festival involve a full closure of the national highway. Please follow local guidance.

Source: 岩内神社 - 北海道神社庁のホームページ

Address 41 Miyazono, Iwanai, Iwanai District, Hokkaido

Open in Google Maps

Dates and season

2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the festival was held from July 7 through the 9th.

July 7 is the eve-of-festival celebration; the main festival and mikoshi procession take place on the 8th, followed by the sea procession and return-to-shrine ceremony on the 9th.

On the night of the 9th, the program included a procession along the national highway and the mikoshi rushing up Shrine Hill.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The mikoshi procession travels along the town’s roads. On the final day, the national highway is closed to all traffic, so please be aware of traffic restrictions along the route.

At the Shrine Slope, the mikoshi races up a steep incline while bonfires light the way. Please take extra care when choosing a viewing spot and watching your step.

Details of the festival schedule and procession route are announced each year, so it’s a good idea to check the latest timetable before your visit.

Nearby attractions

Attractions near the festival venue include the Kida Kinjiro Museum of Art, Iwanai Onsen, and the Arai Memorial Museum.

Roadside Station Iwanai is also suggested as a nearby stop.

You can plan a visit to Iwanai’s art museums, hot springs, and local information centers alongside watching the festival.

Origins and History of Iwanai Shrine Annual Grand Festival

The Iwanai Shrine Annual Grand Festival is a traditional event with a history of more than 200 years.

Iwanai Shrine considers the annual grand festival the most important and largest event in its annual calendar.

The mikoshi procession and the Akasaka Yakko procession have been passed down locally for generations, and the Akasaka Yakko is designated an intangible folk cultural property of the town.

Still held today with the cooperation of the town, the festival heralds the arrival of summer in Iwanai.

Official information

Official information is available on the Iwanai Shrine website.

The festival introduction page provides information about the schedule, event sequence, highlights of the mikoshi procession, participating groups, and food stalls.

Check the site’s information for each year for the schedule and procession route.

Iwanai Shrine Annual Grand Festival at a Glance

The Iwanai Shrine Annual Grand Festival is a traditional event in Iwanai Town that brings together 2 mikoshi, a procession of the Akasaka Yakko, a sea procession, and a nighttime mikoshi procession guided by bonfires.

One of the festival’s signature highlights is the mikoshi rushing up Shrine Hill.

Since events take place on roads around town and near the shrine, it’s best to check traffic restrictions and the procession route before watching.