An autumn festival in Shingu, tracing Kumano’s faith through a sacred horse and boats
Kumano Hayatama Festival
The 2026 edition of Kumano Hayatama Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/15 〜 2026/10/16Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on October 15 and the 16th / Once a year
- Location
- Shingu City, centered around Kumano Hayatama Taisha, as well as the Kumano River, Mifune Island, and the area around the (temporary shrine)
- Area
- Wakayama Prefecture・Shingu City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 30 min–4 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- The participation fee for the children’s procession is 4,000 yen (tax included).
- Age restrictions
- The children’s procession is for children aged 5 to 10.
- Required number of participants
- The children’s procession is limited to 20 participants, with up to 2 attendants per child.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, follows the spirit of Kumano Hayatama Taisha through the town and along the Kumano River in the Shinme -shiki and the Ofune Festival.
About Kumano Hayatama Festival
The Kumano Hayatama Festival is an annual grand festival held around Kumano Hayatama Taisha, with the town of Shingu and the Kumano River as its setting.
Through the Sacred Horse Procession and the Mifune Festival, it traces the footsteps of the deities of Kumano as they traveled from place to place to reach their present site.
This large-scale festival features a sacred horse, , and boats, and has been passed down in connection with local faith.
In 2016, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property as the “Shingu Hayatama Festival and Oto Festival.”
Source: 熊野速玉祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The highlights are the procession led by a sacred horse and the Ofune Festival, held on the Kumano River.
At the Ofune Festival, a fleet of boats escorts the shinkō-bune and Morote-bune, while 9 hayabune race around Ofune Island.
Men dressed in red also perform the Harihari dance aboard the boats.
During the Shinme Togyo-shiki, is performed and are recited at the otabisho, lit by torches, creating a solemn atmosphere for the festival.
An autumn festival in Shingu, tracing Kumano’s faith through a sacred horse and boats
What to expect
Following ceremonies on the previous day, the festival proceeds to the Sacred Horse Procession on October 15, then the Mikoshi Procession and Mifune Festival on the 16th.
On the 15th, the sacred spirit is enshrined in the sacred horse, which visits Asuka Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and the otabisho on the banks of the Kumano River, where rites are performed.
On the 16th, the mikoshi and sacred procession boats proceed to the Kumano River. After the hayabune race around Mifune Island, the sacred spirit is carried in procession to the otabisho.
The festival concludes with the designated rites and the return procession.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
How to take part
No information is provided about the general public participating as festival ritual performers, but visitors can watch each rite from the surrounding area.
During the main hall grand rite, seats may be provided for attendees, who may be able to worship inside the during the offering of tamagushi sprigs.
Only festival personnel may approach the sacred horse, mikoshi, and boats. Please follow staff instructions when viewing.
When watching, please choose a position that does not obstruct the processions or the Mifune Festival.
Watch the sacred horse and mikoshi as they pass through the city from the sidewalk. The hayabune race during the Mifune Festival can be viewed from the riverbanks around Mifune Island.
Some areas within the festival grounds and near the start and finish of the boat race are off-limits, so please follow instructions from staff on site.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The events take place mainly at Kumano Hayatama Taisha (1 Shingu, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture), as well as around Shingu City, the Kumano River, Ofune Island, and the otabisho.
- Train and bus
It is about a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride from JR Shingu Station.
A direct limousine bus runs from Nanki-Shirahama Airport to Shingu Station.
- By car
It is about 10 minutes from the Shingu IC on the Kisei Expressway, or about 30 minutes from the Kumano-Odomari IC on the Kumano-Owase Road.
- Parking
Kumano Hayatama Taisha’s free No. 1 parking lot has spaces for 31 regular cars and 4 large buses.
During busy periods, a temporary parking lot opens at Gongenkawara by the Kumano River. Parking is prohibited near the East Gate, where the mikoshi passes, on October 16.
Source: Access · 駐車場 – 熊野速玉大社【公式】｜熊野信仰のはじまり · 全国熊野神社総本宮
Address 1 Shingu, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture (Kumano Hayatama Taisha)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 reisai was announced as scheduled for October 15 and 16.
On the 15th, the Hon-den Ōmae-no-gi is scheduled for 11 a.m., the Shinme Togyo-shiki for 2 p.m., and the otabisho for 4:30 p.m.
On the 16th, the mikoshi togyo-shiki is scheduled for 2 p.m., the Ofune Festival for 4:30 p.m., and the otabisho shinji for 5:30 p.m.
Times may shift depending on the progress of the ceremonies, and events may be changed or canceled in rainy or 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 Wakayama Prefecture / Shingu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
When watching the procession, use the sidewalk and avoid obstructing the shinji or the procession.
Visitors cannot enter the festival grounds during the ceremonies or approach the sacred horse, mikoshi, or boats.
Drone photography by the general public is prohibited, and visitors should refrain from using flash during the otabisho shinji.
Parking is prohibited near the East Gate on October 16, 2026, so please follow the instructions of event staff and security personnel.
Nearby attractions
佐藤春夫記念館
和歌山県新宮市の文学館
徐福公園
和歌山県新宮市にある公園
熊野速玉大社
和歌山県新宮市新宮1にある神社
熊野速玉神社のナギ
和歌山県新宮市の熊野速玉大社にある巨樹
Kamikura Shrine
和歌山県新宮市の神社
西村伊作記念館
日本の和歌山県新宮市にある建築物
阿須賀神社
和歌山県新宮市にある神社
Origins and History of Kumano Hayatama Festival
The Kumano Hayatama Festival is said to express, through its procession route, the belief that the deities of Kumano descended from across the sea to Mount Kamikura, moved from place to place, and traveled up the river to their present site.
The Sacred Horse Procession is described as retracing the footsteps of Hayatama-no-Okami, while the Mikoshi Procession and Mifune Festival retrace those of Kumano Fusumi-no-Okami.
Before the Meiji calendar reform, the festival was held on the 15th and 16th of lunar calendar: September; the dates of the 15th and 16th of October are still observed today.
In 2016, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property together with the Oto Festival.
Official information
Kumano Hayatama Taisha’s official website lists the annual grand festival, “Shingu Hayatama Festival,” on October 15 and the 16th.
The 2026 schedule also gives the times for the Sacred Horse Procession on the 15th and the Mifune Festival on the 16th.
For festival dates and times, and any changes on the day, please check the official information from Kumano Hayatama Taisha.
Kumano Hayatama Festival at a Glance
The Kumano Hayatama Festival is an annual grand festival in which a sacred horse, mikoshi, and boats set out from Kumano Hayatama Taisha and travel through the town of Shingu and along the Kumano River.
The Sacred Horse Procession takes place on the 15th, followed on the 16th by the Mikoshi Procession and the Mifune Festival. A highlight is the boat race among 9 hayabune boats.
In 2026, the festival will be held on October 15 and the 16th. The venue area is about a 15-minute walk from JR Shingu Station.
Source: 熊野速玉大社例大祭(和歌山県)の詳細データ｜ウォーカープラス
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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