Prayers and festivities at Izushi Hatsuma, welcoming spring to the castle town
Izushi Hatsuma Festival
The 2026 edition of Izushi Hatsuma Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/03/20 〜 2026/03/22Ended
- Season / frequency
- For 3 days starting on the 3rd Friday of March each year / Every year
- Location
- Around the Izushi Castle ruins
- Area
- Hyogo Prefecture・Toyooka City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 40 min–3 h 10 min · bullet 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 (ticket required for white fox dance performances)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Izushi Hatsuma Festival, which dates back to the Edo period, is held in the castle town of Izushi, Toyooka City. Prayers originating in visits to Inari Shrine come together with lanterns, bonfires, food stalls, and white fox dances to bring spring to Izushi.
About Izushi Hatsuma Festival
Izushi Hatsuma Festival is a traditional major festival welcoming the arrival of spring, held around the Izushi Castle ruins in Izushi Town, Toyooka City.
It is said to have begun in the Edo period, when the lord of the Izushi Domain opened the castle’s main gate on the day of Hatsuma so townspeople could visit the Inari Shrine within the castle grounds.
The festival is passed down locally as an occasion to pray for prosperous business and a bountiful harvest.
Festival highlights
On Yoimiya, lanterns and bonfires illuminate the approach to the shrine, lighting up the area around the castle ruins at night.
On the main festival day and the final day, food stalls, food trucks, a haunted house, a fire engine display and boarding experience, an ikebana exhibition, and more are set up.
At performances by children dressed as white foxes, visitors can enjoy dances inspired by the white fox legend of Inari Shrine, accompanied by drums and flutes.
Source: 【2026年3月20・21・22日】出石初午大祭 | 豊岡市観光公式サイト
Prayers and festivities at Izushi Hatsuma, welcoming spring to the castle town
What to expect
The festival takes place over 3 days: Yoimiya, the main festival day, and the final day.
On Yoimiya, lanterns and bonfires light the way, and visitors can enjoy complimentary zenzai and buy Goemon soba.
On the main festival day and the final day, you can visit food stalls, rides, a haunted house, exhibits, and lucky-draw booths. Performances by the white fox dancers are also held on some days.
How to take part
General visitors can browse food stalls, food trucks, exhibits, an ikebana exhibition, a haunted house, and more.
Visitors are also listed as being able to board the fire engine on display.
The white fox dance performances feature children; they are not listed as events where visitors join in the dancing.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around the Izushi Castle ruins in Izushi Town, Toyooka City.
- Train and bus
Take a Zentan Bus bound for Izushi from JR West Toyooka Station, get off at the terminus, and walk 5 minutes.
- By car
Traffic restrictions are in effect in some parts of town during the festival.
- Parking
Parking is listed as available.
Source: 出石初午大祭 - Wikipedia
Address Around the Izushi Castle ruins, Izushi Town, Toyooka City
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, it was held for 3 days from March 20 (Friday, public holiday) through the 22nd (Sunday).
The 20th is Yoimiya, the 21st is the main festival day, and the 22nd is the final day; hours vary by day.
Yoimiya is listed as running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the main festival day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the final day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.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 Hyogo Prefecture / Toyooka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Event times and ticket requirements vary, so it’s a good idea to check the schedule for the events you want to see before visiting.
Some performances by the white fox dancers are listed as requiring a ticket.
Traffic restrictions are in effect in some parts of town during the festival, so if you’re driving, allow extra time to get around town.
Nearby attractions
出石神社
兵庫県豊岡市にある神社
Origins and History of Izushi Hatsuma Festival
Izushi Hatsuma Festival is said to have begun when the lord of the Izushi Domain opened the castle’s main gate only on the day of Hatsuma in the Edo period, allowing townspeople to visit the castle grounds.
At the time, ordinary townspeople were not allowed inside the castle, so on the festival day visitors came not only from Tajima but also from Tango and Tamba.
The festival continues to be passed down as a major event that has been held for over 400 years.
Official information
For festival information and event details, visit the official Toyooka City tourism website.
For inquiries, contact the Izushi Hatsuma Festival Supporters’ Association (at the Izushi Branch of the Toyooka City Society of Commerce and Industry). The phone number is 0796-52-2113.
Izushi Hatsuma Festival at a Glance
Izushi Hatsuma Festival is a major festival in Izushi Town, Toyooka City, that began in the Edo period and has been passed down through generations with prayers for prosperous business and a bountiful harvest.
Visitors can enjoy both prayers and town festivities, including lanterns and bonfires on Yoimiya, food stalls, a haunted house, a fire engine experience, and white fox dances.
In 2026, it was held from March 20 through the 22nd.
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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