A summer Gion festival connecting Takada and Naoetsu with mikoshi and dashi
Joetsu Festival
The 2026 edition of Joetsu Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/23 〜 2026/07/29Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year in late July / Every year
- Location
- Venues in the Takada and Naoetsu areas, Yasaka Shrine, the mouth of the Seki River, and other locations
- Area
- Niigata Prefecture・Joetsu City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival in Joetsu City that connects Takada and Naoetsu with , featuring processions, a fireworks display, a folk dance parade, and an offering of rice.
About Joetsu Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Akuseru-darts File:Naoetusgion201001.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: Akuseru-darts File:Naoetsu yatai.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Joetsu Matsuri is a summer festival held in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, across the Takada and Naoetsu districts.
Based on the Gion Festival of Yasaka , mikoshi make their procession between Takada and Naoetsu.
In Naoetsu, parades take place in 19 neighborhoods, and rice is offered to the gods at Yasaka Jinja.
Events such as the Grand Folk Dance Parade and the Grand Fireworks Display are also part of the festival, bringing local traditional events together with activities in the city.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the mikoshi procession from Takada to Naoetsu and the dashi procession in Naoetsu.
Dashi from 19 neighborhoods parade through their respective neighborhoods, then gather at Yasaka Shrine on the final day to offer rice.
A fireworks display is held at the mouth of the Seki River, and a large folk dance parade takes place in the city streets at night.
A distinctive feature is that mikoshi, dashi, festival music, and ceremonial events unfold on different days.
Source: 上越まつり - Wikipedia / 直江津祇園祭（7月26日～7月29日） | 上越まつり | 【公式】上越観光Navi - 歴史と自然に出会うまち、新潟県上越市公式観光情報サイト
A summer Gion festival connecting Takada and Naoetsu with mikoshi and dashi
What to expect
The festival begins with a mikoshi departure ceremony at Yasaka Shrine, followed by mikoshi processions and shrine visits in the Takada area, as well as a folk dance parade.
On July 26, a mikoshi procession down the river and a fireworks display are held, after which the festival shifts to the Naoetsu area.
In Naoetsu, dashi and mikoshi parade through the neighborhoods, culminating in an offering of rice at Yasaka Shrine on the final day.
The venues and events vary by date, so check which events you want to see before visiting.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Events are held in areas including around Honcho Street in the Takada district, Umaidebashi Street and the , neighborhoods throughout the Naoetsu district, Yasaka Jinja, and the mouth of the Seki River.
- Train and bus
Bus stops for routes in various directions during the traffic restriction hours are indicated in front of Naoetsu Station and at the station’s south exit.
Temporary stops and bus stop changes may apply during restrictions.
- By car
The Naoetsu Gion Festival information advises visitors to use public transportation because parking is limited.
Traffic restrictions will be in effect, so if you are visiting by car, please check the restricted areas.
- Parking
Parking is limited, according to the available information.
Source: 交通規制 | 上越まつり | 【公式】上越観光Navi - 歴史と自然に出会うまち、新潟県上越市公式観光情報サイト
Event venue 新潟県上越市 高田地区
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The 2026 schedule was announced for July 23 through the 29th.
From July 23 through the 26th, events were held mainly in the Takada area, including the departure ceremony for the mikoshi, its return to the shrine, a folk dance parade, a mikoshi procession down the river, and a fireworks display.
From July 27 through the 29th, dashi processions, a folk dance parade, the mikoshi’s return to the shrine, and an offering of rice were scheduled in the Naoetsu area.
The fireworks display was scheduled to be postponed to July 27 or the 30th in the event of severe weather.
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 Niigata Prefecture / Joetsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As parking is limited in the Naoetsu district, visitors are advised to use public transportation.
Traffic restrictions are in effect in the town centers of Takada and Naoetsu during the festival, and bus stops and stopping locations may change.
The Grand Fireworks Display is held at the mouth of the Seki River. If you feel strong shaking or hear a tsunami warning, you are advised to move away from the coast and riverbanks.
Please check the venue and restricted areas for the event you plan to attend.
Nearby attractions
上越市立水族博物館
新潟県上越市にある水族館
Origins and History of Joetsu Festival
The Gion Festival, on which the Joetsu Festival is based, is considered a ritual of Yasaka Shrine that has continued since the Heian period.
It is said that the practice of holding the Gion Festival in Takada began when Matsudaira Tadateru moved from Fukushima Castle in Naoetsu to Takada Castle in Keicho 19 (1614), while Yasaka Shrine remained in Naoetsu and traveled to Takada for the festival.
This led to the festival’s distinctive mikoshi processions between Naoetsu and Takada.
In 2017, the otabisho ceremonies and dashi processions were designated Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Niigata Prefecture.
Source: 上越まつりについて | 上越まつり | 【公式】上越観光Navi - 歴史と自然に出会うまち、新潟県上越市公式観光情報サイト
Official information
Event information and schedules are available on Joetsu City’s official tourism website, “Joetsu Kanko Navi.”
It provides information on the Takada Gion Festival, Naoetsu Gion Festival, fireworks display, folk dance parade, traffic restrictions, and more.
The 2026 information also announced the completion of the event schedule and poster.
Joetsu Festival at a Glance
The Joetsu Festival is a summer festival in Joetsu City that connects Takada and Naoetsu with mikoshi, featuring dashi processions and ceremonial events.
The festivities shift from the Takada area to the Naoetsu area, continuing with a mikoshi procession down the river, a fireworks display, a folk dance parade, and dashi processions by 19 neighborhoods.
The festival concludes with the offering of rice at Yasaka Shrine.
The 2026 schedule was announced for July 23 through the 29th, and visitors needed to be aware of traffic restrictions around the venues.
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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