Ise’s grand festival, offering thanks for the harvest at the Outer and Inner Shrines
Kannamesai
The 2026 edition of Kannamesai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/15 〜 2026/10/17Ended
- Season / frequency
- Oct
- Location
- Ise Jingu (Outer Shrine, Toyouke Daijingu; Inner Shrine, Kotaijingu)
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Ise City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An important ceremony at Ise Jingu, held in gratitude for the harvest by offering newly harvested rice to Amaterasu-Omikami. Yuki no Omike, the Hohei ceremony, and are performed from the Outer Shrine to the Inner Shrine.
About Kannamesai
The Kannamesai is an important ceremony at Ise Jingu, in which the newly harvested rice of the year is first offered to Amaterasu-Omikami in gratitude for the blessings of the harvest.
The ceremonies include Yuki no Omike and the Hohei ceremony, as well as Okitamajinsai, Uraboku, and kagura.
The custom of holding the rites first at the Outer Shrine, known as Geku-saisen, is another feature of the Kannamesai.
It is a Shinto rite deeply connected with rice-growing culture, in which the new harvest is offered to the gods.
Source: 神嘗祭｜年間行事｜祭典と催し｜伊勢神宮
Festival highlights
Highlights include Yuki no Omike, when newly harvested rice from Kanda, rice cakes, white and black sake, and products of the sea, rivers, mountains, and fields are offered.
During the Hohei ceremony the following day, an imperial envoy sent by the Emperor offers cloth offerings.
Kagura is performed at the end of the ceremonies, and visitors can also observe how the rites proceed from the Outer Shrine to the Inner Shrine.
Ceremonies held during visiting hours can be viewed from the shrine approach and other areas.
Ise’s grand festival, offering thanks for the harvest at the Outer and Inner Shrines
What to expect
The rites begin at the Outer Shrine and proceed in this order: Yuki no Yū no Omike, Yuki no Asa no Omike, the Hohei ceremony, and kagura.
At the Inner Shrine, too, the rites continue from Yuki no Yū no Omike at night to Yuki no Asa no Omike the following morning, the Hohei ceremony at noon, and kagura in the evening.
The Uraboku divination, which determines whether shrine priests are qualified to serve, is also performed before the Kannamesai.
General visitors can view the ceremonies from the shrine approach during the times they are open to the public.
How to take part
No invitation for members of the general public to participate in the Kannamesai rites has been announced.
Ceremonies held during visiting hours can be viewed from the shrine approach and other areas.
The nighttime rites take place while shrine visits are suspended, so the parts that can be viewed in person are limited.
No special application process for the rites is provided.
To view the ceremonies, visit the Outer and Inner Shrines as a visitor to Ise Jingu and observe them from the shrine approach and other areas during visiting hours.
Yuki no Omike and other nighttime rites cannot be viewed because they take place while shrine visits are suspended.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Held at the Outer Shrine (Toyouke Daijingu) and Inner Shrine (Kotaijingu) of Ise Jingu.
Address 279 Toyokawa-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture (Toyouke Daijingu, Outer Shrine); 1 Uji-tachicho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture (Kotaijingu, Inner Shrine)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, the rites associated with Kannamesai begin with the Okitamajinsai on October 15.
At the Geku, Yuki no Omikes and the offering of heihaku and kagura are held from October 15 through the 16th. The same rites continue at the Naiku from October 16 through the 17th.
The heihaku offering at the Naiku is scheduled for noon on October 17, and kagura for 6 p.m. that day.
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 Mie Prefecture / Ise City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
For Kannamesai 2026, the rites at the Geku were scheduled to take place first, followed by those at the Naiku.
Ceremonies held during visiting hours can be viewed from the and other areas, but nighttime rites are not open to visitors because the grounds are closed to worshippers at that time.
The dates and times of the rites differ between the Geku and Naiku, so it’s best to check which site you plan to visit in advance.
Nearby attractions
ともいきの国 伊勢忍者キングダム
三重県伊勢市にあるテーマパーク
ゼロ距離水族館伊勢シーパラダイス
日本の水族館
マコンデ美術館
三重県伊勢市にある美術館
二見興玉神社
三重県伊勢市にある神社
伊勢神宮
日本の天照大御神を祀る最高位の神社
倭姫宮
三重県伊勢市楠部町にある神社
写真：No machine-readable author provided. N yotarou assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 2.5
Photo source ·
土宮
三重県伊勢市豊川町にある神社
多賀宮
三重県伊勢市豊川町にある神社
月夜見宮
三重県伊勢市宮後にある神社
月讀宮
三重県伊勢市中村町にある神社
猿田彦神社
三重県伊勢市にある神社
皇大神宮
三重県伊勢市にある神社
Origins and History of Kannamesai
The Kannamesai is considered the ceremony with the oldest history at Ise Jingu.
Before the calendar reform in the Meiji period, it was held in September; it is now held in October.
Its significance as a harvest thanksgiving, rooted in ancient times, has been passed down unchanged to the present day.
The custom of holding the rites first at the Outer Shrine also continues as a tradition of ceremonies at Ise Jingu.
Official information
Ise Jingu’s official information covers the history of the Kannamesai, the rites, the 2026 schedule, and what can be viewed during visiting hours.
The official access information provides the locations of the Inner and Outer Shrines, as well as details on getting there by train, bus, and car.
The official information from the Ise Goshikinen Committee describes the land procession at the Outer Shrine and the river procession at the Inner Shrine for Hatsuho-biki.
Source: 交通アクセス｜伊勢神宮 / 神嘗祭奉祝 初穂曳 │ 伊勢御遷宮委員会
Kannamesai at a Glance
The Kannamesai is an important ceremony at Ise Jingu, where newly harvested rice is offered to Amaterasu-Omikami in gratitude for the harvest.
In 2026, the rites were scheduled to take place at the Geku from October 15 and at the Naiku from October 16, including the offering of heihaku and kagura.
Some ceremonies held during visiting hours can be viewed from the shrine approach, but the nighttime rites are not open to viewing.
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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