A spring festival in Yosano Town, where kagura and yatai connect generations through shared memories
Kayadani Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Saturday and Sunday of the final week of April / Every year
- Location
- Throughout the Kayo and Nodagawa areas of Yosano Town (shrines and neighborhoods in each district)
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Yosano Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This spring festival takes place across the Kayo Valley area of Yosano Town, with , sword dances, , and processions through the various districts. Performing arts and festival traditions that differ from district to district have been passed down.
About Kayadani Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 漱石の猫 File:加悦谷祭・加悦天満宮３.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: 漱石の猫 File:与謝野町 深田神社29.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: 漱石の猫 File:与謝野町 大宮神社１７.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Kayadani Festival is a spring festival held as an annual shrine festival throughout the Kayo Valley area, which corresponds to the former towns of Kayo and Nodagawa in Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture.
Each district holds events including kagura’s “kamado cleansing,” sword dances, yatai, performance yatai, and mikoshi processions.
Multiple shrines and districts continue to pass down their respective performing arts as part of an event in which the community as a whole prays for a bountiful harvest.
Source: 加悦谷祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
Highlights include the diverse festival processions, with kagura and yatai varying from district to district.
In Kayo and Sanjo, the mikoshi is known for proceeding along the old highway and narrow streets, and for the ritual of ascending and descending the steep 137-step stone staircase at Tenman Shrine.
Another attraction is the chance to compare local traditions within a single festival, from dedication dances performed while swinging swords to lion kagura and children’s yatai.
Source: 加悦谷祭 | イベント一覧 | 京都府観光連盟公式サイト
A spring festival in Yosano Town, where kagura and yatai connect generations through shared memories
What to expect
On the eve of the festival and the main festival day, each shrine holds prayers and other rituals. In districts that have kagura, performers visit homes to perform kamado cleansing and requested dances.
Kagura, sword dances, taiko yatai, performance yatai, mikoshi, and other processions then move through the districts, with dedication performances held at shrines, , and other locations.
In some districts, children’s yatai and children’s mikoshi also take part, with festival duties shared among the generations.
How to take part
The festival is a community event led by and residents in each district, with roles in kagura, yatai, processions, hospitality and more.
In some districts, residents from elementary school students to adults take on a role.
Whether visitors can take part as festival participants depends on the rules and roles in each district, so general visitors are best advised to focus on watching.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival takes place throughout the Kayo and Nodagawa areas of Yosano Town, at shrines and in neighborhoods across each district.
Tenman Shrine, associated with the yatai procession in Kayo and Sanjo, is located at 50-1 Kayo, Yosano Town, Yosa District, Kyoto Prefecture.
- Train and bus
From Yosano Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway Miyazu Line, travel to the various districts in town.
Source: 加悦・算所の屋台行事 | 与謝野町観光スポット | 海の京都観光圏
Address Yosano Town, Yosa District, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
It is usually held on the Saturday and Sunday of the last week of April. In some districts, Saturday is called the Yoimiya and Sunday the Honmiya.
However, some districts observe only Saturday or only Sunday as the festival 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 Kyoto Prefecture / Yosano Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The festival procession travels along roads in each neighborhood and through . Some viewing areas may be narrow, so please take care not to obstruct mikoshi or yatai as they pass.
The schedule, procession route and highlights vary by district, so it is easier to watch if you decide in advance which shrine or district you want to visit.
When approaching shinji or dances being offered to the shrine, please follow local guidance and staff instructions.
Nearby attractions
与謝野町立古墳公園はにわ資料館
京都府与謝野町の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Kayadani Festival
The origins of the Kayadani Festival are unclear, but it is thought that urban-style hikiyama processions, such as those at Kyoto’s Gion Festival, reached the area between the mid and late Edo period through the movement of people connected with Tango chirimen silk.
Formerly, each shrine held its festival on a different day, but around 1887 they began to be held on the date of the annual festival at Kayo Tenmangu Shrine.
Since 2001, the festival has been held on the final Saturday and Sunday of April to address a shortage of people to carry out the festival duties.
Official information
Information on the festival area and transportation is available in the Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation’s event guide.
The Yosano Tourism Association is listed as a contact.
As each district has its own shrines and festivals, please also check local information for details of the events you would like to see.
Kayadani Festival at a Glance
The Kayadani Festival is a spring shrine festival passed down by the shrines and residents of each district throughout the Kayo Valley area of Yosano Town.
Kagura, kamado cleansing, sword dances, yatai, and mikoshi processions take place in each district. In Kayo and Sanjo, the mikoshi procession up the steep stone staircase is also a highlight.
It is usually held on the final Saturday and Sunday of April, but dates and events vary by district.
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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