A great lion and mikoshi proceeding through Misaki’s port town: a summer procession passed down through the generations
Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance
The 2026 edition of Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/18 〜 2026/07/19Ended
- Season / frequency
- For 2 days each year, on the Saturday and Sunday before Marine Day in July / Every year
- Location
- Kainan Shrine and the surrounding Misaki downtown area
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Miura City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival at Kainan Shrine in Misaki, Miura City, where the Gyodo Lion Dance and procession have been handed down through the generations. A large lion leads the way, followed by mikoshi and through the downtown area, accompanied by kiyari work songs and festival music.
About Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance
A traditional event in Misaki, Miura City, held during the Summer Grand Festival at Kainan Shrine.
Led by the Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance, mikoshi and dashi proceed accompanied by kiyari work songs and festival music.
A festival tradition dating back to the Edo period, the Gyodo Lion Dance and the Summer Grand Festival are designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Miura City.
The festival has been passed down as an event that offers a sense of the port town of Misaki’s history and the bonds among .
Source: 海南神社 夏例大祭／三浦市 / 年間行事 | 相州三浦総鎮守 海南神社
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the Gyodo Lion Dance, featuring large male and female lion heads.
The lion leads the festival procession, performing the Gyodo to the call-and-response of kiyari work songs.
The mikoshi and dashi follow, while kiyari work songs, calls, and festival music echo through Misaki’s downtown area.
Enjoy a powerful yet graceful procession that brings together the Gyodo Lion Dance, mikoshi procession, and dashi procession.
Source: 海南神社夏祭りの「行道（お練り）獅子」／三浦市
A great lion and mikoshi proceeding through Misaki’s port town: a summer procession passed down through the generations
What to expect
During the festival, the lion and mikoshi set out from Kainan Shrine and proceed throughout Misaki’s downtown area.
The Gyodo Lion Dance leads the way, followed by mikoshi and dashi to the kiyari work songs and calls.
There is a custom of having the lion perform a special dance in front of each home. The lion is believed to ward off evil spirits and misfortune and bring good fortune.
After the two-day mikoshi procession, the mikoshi is returned to Kainan Shrine.
How to take part
The Gyodo Lion Dance, mikoshi, and dashi processions are carried out by local shrine parishioners and those who help organize the festival.
No requirements have been announced for visitors wishing to join as carriers or take part in the lion procession, so please check with Kainan Shrine or the festival organizers if you wish to participate.
Visitors can watch the procession as it travels through the downtown area.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival starts at Kainan Shrine (4-12-11 Misaki, Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture) and takes place throughout Misaki’s downtown area.
- Train and bus
From Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Line, take Keikyu Bus route Su 6 bound for Misaki Port for about 20 minutes. Get off at the Misaki Port bus stop and walk about 3 minutes.
- By car
From IC on the Miura-Jukan Expressway, it takes about 30 minutes via National Route 134.
Source: アクセス | 相州三浦総鎮守 海南神社
Address 4-12-11 Misaki, Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, it was held from July 18 (Saturday) to July 19 (Sunday).
It is usually held over 2 days, on the Saturday and Sunday before Marine Day in July.
Accommodation and hotels PR
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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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Miura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The procession travels from around Kainan Shrine through Misaki’s downtown area, so this is an event to watch as it moves rather than from a single spot.
Along the route taken by the lion, mikoshi, and dashi, please be considerate of others and avoid obstructing the procession.
The event takes place outdoors in summer, so it is a good idea to prepare for the heat and sun.
Even if you want to see the lion up close, please follow the instructions of the participants and event staff.
Source: 海南神社例大祭 - 三浦市民交流センター ニナイテ
Nearby attractions
海南神社
神奈川県三浦市にある神社
Origins and History of Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance
The origins of the Gyodo Lion Dance are said to date back to the Heian period, when it was one of the religious ceremonies signifying the lion mount of Monju Bosatsu.
During the Edo period, the lion came to lead the festival procession as a messenger of the gods and was regarded as a path-clearing figure that intimidated evil spirits.
Kainan Shrine’s Summer Grand Festival has continued since the Edo period, evolving from a procession by sea to one on land.
The Gyodo Lion Dance was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Miura City in Heisei 4, and the Summer Grand Festival received the designation in Heisei 29.
Source: 指定文化財／三浦市
Official information
For event details and an overview of the festival, see Miura City’s “Kainan Shrine Summer Grand Festival” page.
The origins and customs of the Gyodo Lion Dance are described on Miura City’s cultural properties page.
Kainan Shrine’s annual events page provides information about the Grand Festival dates, the Gyodo Lion Dance, the mikoshi procession, and the dashi procession.
Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance at a Glance
The Kainan Shrine Gyodo (Oneri) Lion Dance is a summer grand festival held in Misaki’s downtown area, where mikoshi and dashi proceed with the Gyodo Lion Dance at the head of the procession.
The festival brings together lion worship, said to date back to the Heian period, and the port town’s festival traditions, which have continued since the Edo period.
The procession of the large lion, accompanied by kiyari work songs and festival music, is a highlight that symbolizes the festival.
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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