A spectacular summer festival in Chofu, where banners and kiriko lantern floats circle the Oniishi Stone
Suhotei Event at Iminomiya Shrine
The 2026 edition of Suhotei Event at Iminomiya Shrine has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/07 〜 2026/08/13Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, August 7–13 / Every year
- Location
- Iminomiya Shrine
- Area
- Yamaguchi Prefecture・Shimonoseki City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 min · flight time only)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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Suhotei event at Iminomiya Shrine is a summer festival in which huge banners and kiriko lantern floats circle the Oniishi Stone to the sound of drums and gongs. A spectacular banner dance and a beautiful procession of kiriko lantern floats bring the grounds in Chofu to life.
About Suhotei Event at Iminomiya Shrine
The Suhotei event at Iminomiya Shrine is a traditional festival held on the every summer.
Men carry large banners that can be 20–30 meters long, while women carry kiriko floats decorated with lanterns and ornaments, circling the Oniishi Stone.
The event is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Yamaguchi Prefecture and has been passed down in the Chofu community.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the spectacular banner dance performed with a huge banner made from 2 joined bamboo poles.
The banners can be 20–30 meters long and weigh 60–80 kilograms, and are swung around the Oniishi Stone to shouts of encouragement.
In contrast, the kiriko lantern floats, made by decorating bamboo branches with lanterns and strips of colored paper, move to the beat of drums and gongs, creating a strikingly beautiful scene.
Source: 山口県/観光スポーツ文化部文化振興課/文化財・山口県の文化財
A spectacular summer festival in Chofu, where banners and kiriko lantern floats circle the Oniishi Stone
What to expect
Every day, the event proceeds to the sound of drums, flutes, gongs, and other instruments.
After people carrying kiriko lantern floats circle the Oniishi Stone 3 times clockwise, small banners, medium-sized banners, and finally large banners circle it in the same way, as onlookers cheer, “Hoi, hoi!”
The sequence from the 1st drum performance through the 4th is repeated, for a total of 28 performances over 7 days.
How to take part
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Iminomiya Shrine (1-18 Chofu Miyanochi-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture).
- Train and bus
23 minutes by bus from JR Shimonoseki Station; get off at “Jōkamachi Chofu,” then walk 5 minutes.
- By car
It is about 12 minutes from the Shimonoseki IC on the Chugoku Expressway.
Address 1-18 Chofu Miyanochi-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event is scheduled to run from August 7 to August 13 in 2026.
The event runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the begins at 7 p.m.
The event is also held annually from August 7 through the 13th.
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 Yamaguchi Prefecture / Shimonoseki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The banners are danced within a circle centered on the Oniishi Stone, and a fence is set up for safety.
The banners are heavy and require strength and skill to handle, so please stay outside the fence and watch from around the perimeter.
As the event proceeds to the sound of drums, gongs, and shouts, please follow instructions and take care to help maintain safety within the shrine grounds.
Nearby attractions
Near the venue are Iminomiya Shrine, the Hōden Treasure Hall of Toyoura-no-miya Iminomiya Shrine, Nogi Shrine, the former Nogi residence, the Chofu Domain Samurai House Row, Chofu Mori Residence, and the historic district of Chofu, among other places.
You can combine your visit with places connected to the history and shrines and temples of the Chofu area, where the festival is held.
Please check opening hours and conditions of use for each facility before your visit.
はい!からっと横丁
山口県下関市にある遊園地
下関市立しものせき水族館
山口県下関市にある水族館
下関市立歴史博物館
山口県下関市長府にある博物館
下関市立美術館
山口県下関市長府にある美術館
下関市立考古博物館
山口県下関市にある博物館
下関市立近代先人顕彰館
日本の山口県下関市にある博物館
下関市立長府博物館
山口県下関市長府にあった博物館
写真：Wiki708 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
乃木神社
山口県下関市にある神社
亀山八幡宮
山口県下関市にある神社
大歳神社
山口県下関市にある神社
彦島八幡宮
山口県下関市にある神社
Iminomiya Shrine
山口県下関市にある式内社
Origins and History of Suhotei Event at Iminomiya Shrine
Stories about the origins of Suhotei include a legend involving Emperor Chuai and Jinrin, as well as a tale about the vengeful spirit of the king of Goryeo. However, cultural-property explanations say these remain legends without historical confirmation.
The earliest known written reference dates to the early modern period, when the Chofu Domain existed. A notice concerning Suhotei appears in the 1683 “Mori-ke Jō.”
Records show that many banners took part in 1703, and the event has continued with both samurai and townspeople involved.
Official information
The official information lists the Iminomiya Shrine official website.
Suhotei Event at Iminomiya Shrine at a Glance
The Suhotei event at Iminomiya Shrine is a traditional summer festival passed down in Chofu, where large banners and kiriko lantern floats circle the Oniishi Stone.
To the sound of drums, gongs, and shouts, performers dance with towering bamboo banners, while a procession carries lanterns.
In 2026, the event is scheduled to take place at Iminomiya Shrine from August 7 through the 13th.
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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