Kuroiwa’s traditional festival, with a lantern-adorned boat-shaped dashi making its way beneath the night sky
Kuroiwa Gion Festival
The 2026 edition of Kuroiwa Gion Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/01Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, the first Saturday of August / Every year
- Location
- Iwato Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Ichinomiya City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Kuroiwa Gion Festival, celebrated in Kuroiwa, Asai-cho, Ichinomiya City, is a festival of Iwato Shrine. A boat-shaped decorated with more than 550 lanterns makes its way through the town at night to the accompaniment of festival music.
About Kuroiwa Gion Festival
The Kuroiwa Gion Festival is a festival of Iwato Shrine, located in Kuroiwa, Asai-cho.
It is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period to express gratitude to those involved in the Horeki flood-control works and to honor those who died.
Today, a lantern-adorned dashi is pulled to the accompaniment of festival music, preserving the festival tradition passed down in the community.
Source: 黒岩祇園祭 | イベント検索 | 【公式】愛知県の観光サイトAichi Now / 黒岩祇園祭 | 愛知県の山車まつりポータルサイト あいちの山車まつり
Festival highlights
The highlight is a single boat-shaped dashi adorned with more than 550 large and small lanterns.
The 15-meter-tall dashi rises against the night sky as it is pulled through the town to the accompaniment of festival music.
Its distinctive appearance, with red and white lanterns making it look like a boat, and the “Okuribune” ceremony held at the end of the festival are also memorable features.
Kuroiwa’s traditional festival, with a lantern-adorned boat-shaped dashi making its way beneath the night sky
What to expect
During the festival, the dashi travels back and forth between Kuroiwa Community Center and Iwato Shrine to the accompaniment of festival music.
The dashi procession with its lanterns aloft is the festival’s highlight. At the end, the “Okuribune” is floated at the confluence of the Kiso River and Miyata Irrigation Canal, bringing the festival to a close.
The route today retains traces of the boat festival held in the past.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Iwato Shrine (217-1 Iwatozuka, Kuroiwa, Asai-cho, Ichinomiya City)
- Train and bus
After getting off at Owari-Ichinomiya Station, take a bus from the Ichinomiya Station East Exit and get off at Kawada-Kuroiwa. The shrine is a 4-minute walk from there.
- By car
About 20 minutes from the Ichinomiya Higashi Exit on the Nagoya Expressway.
- Parking
There is free parking for about 10 cars.
Event venue 愛知県一宮市 石刀神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
The festival was held on August 1 (Saturday) in 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
In most years, it takes place on the first Saturday of August.
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 Aichi Prefecture / Ichinomiya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
一宮市尾西歴史民俗資料館
愛知県一宮市の歴史資料館
一宮市木曽川資料館
愛知県一宮市にある博物館
真清田神社
愛知県一宮市にある名神大社
Origins and History of Kuroiwa Gion Festival
The Kuroiwa Gion Festival is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period as a festival to honor the victims of the Horeki flood-control works.
In the past, it was held on day 15 of lunar month 6, and records describe a “boat festival” featuring riverboats.
It is said that the festival later took its current form as a land-based event because there was no land along the riverbank where boats could be moored.
Official information
The Aichi Prefecture tourism website “Aichi Now” provides an overview of the festival.
The official Ichinomiya City Tourism Association website is also listed as a related resource.
Kuroiwa Gion Festival at a Glance
The Kuroiwa Gion Festival is a festival in Ichinomiya City held at Iwato Shrine, where a boat-shaped dashi decorated with lanterns is pulled to the accompaniment of festival music.
It carries on traditions honoring the victims of the Horeki flood-control works and the Tenno and water deity beliefs of the Kiso River basin.
Highlights include the dashi illuminating the night sky and events that retain traces of a boat 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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