A fleet of a hundred boats glides along the river, accompanied by dazzling oar-boat dances
Hōran Enya (the annual grand procession festival of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every 10 years / Once every 10 years
- Location
- Waters in Matsue and other areas
- Area
- Shimane Prefecture・Matsue City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 40 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Held once every 10 years, Hōran Enya carries the sacred spirit of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine by boat. A fleet of about 100 boats and oar-boat dances unfold on the waters of Matsue.
About Hōran Enya (the annual grand procession festival of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine)
Hōran Enya is an annual grand procession festival in which the sacred spirit of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine is carried by boat to Atakaya Shrine and then returned after prayers.
This large-scale boat ritual has been passed down in Matsue and is held every 10 years.
Through the boat procession and oar-boat dances, visitors can experience the region’s religious beliefs and traditional culture.
Source: 松江城山稲荷神社式年神幸祭ホーランエンヤ／松江市ホームページ / ホーランエンヤ（松江城山稲荷神社式年神幸祭） | しまね観光ナビ｜島根県公式観光情報サイト
Festival highlights
The main highlight is a grand procession of about 100 boats, led by the boat.
The colorful oar boats showcase synchronized rowing, along with sword-shaped oars at the bow and performers waving batons at the stern.
Kabuki-style costumes and performances in women’s clothing add to the spectacle, offering a chance to enjoy dazzling traditional performing arts on the water.
Source: ホーランエンヤ | Ｑ＆Ａ
A fleet of a hundred boats glides along the river, accompanied by dazzling oar-boat dances
What to expect
The festival lasts 9 days and consists of the festival on the first day, 7 days of prayers and the mid-festival ceremony, and the festival on the final day.
The sacred spirit is carried by a fleet of boats to Atakaya Shrine, where the kaidenma dance is offered on the middle day.
On the 9th day, the fleet returns and escorts the sacred spirit to Jozan Inari Shrine.
How to take part
People from 5 districts—Magata, Yada, Oi, Fukudomi, and Oomizaki—take charge of the festival fleet and dances.
General visitors do not take part by boarding the boats; instead, they watch the boat procession and kaidenma dance from bridges or the riverbank.
No information has been confirmed about recruitment for general participants in 2026 or the conditions for taking part in the boat events.
Location and access
- Venue and address
This boat event runs from Matsue Jozan Inari Shrine (Tonomachi, Matsue City) to Atakaya Shrine (Izumogo, Higashiizumo-cho, Matsue City).
The main viewing areas are around the Ohashi River in central Matsue and the U River in Higashiizumo-cho.
- Train and bus
The walk from JR Matsue Station to the Ohashi River embankment is said to take about 5 minutes.
The Lake Line bus can be taken from JR Matsue Station to the area around Matsue Jozan Inari Shrine.
- By car
During the event, traffic restrictions will be in place on the embankment roads used as viewing areas and on some bridges, and congestion is expected nearby.
- Parking
Visitors are advised that the number of privately operated paid parking spaces near the Matsue venue is limited.
Event venue 島根県松江市 松江市内の水域
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Every 10 years
- Frequency
Once every 10 years
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 Shimane Prefecture / Matsue City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The water-based events are watched from bridges or the riverbank.
Many participating boats occupy the waterways along the procession route, so visitors cannot approach or moor there by boat.
Traffic restrictions and congestion are expected during the event, so if viewing information for 2026 is announced, check the venue area and travel arrangements in advance.
Nearby attractions
Matsue Jōzan Park is located near Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine, one of the festival’s main venues.
Visitor information highlights the park’s camellias as a way to enjoy the scenery while recalling the Edo period.
Near Matsue Castle, the Hōran Enya Heritage Museum offers visitors a chance to learn about the festival through videos, graphics, and an oar boat built at half the actual size.
Source: 松江観光協会 - 観光スポット|スポット情報
いずもまがたまの里 伝承館
島根県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
メテオプラザ
島根県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
中村元記念館
島根県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Sada Shrine
島根県松江市にある神社
八重垣神社
松江市にある神社
小泉八雲旧居
島根県松江市にある文学館
小泉八雲記念館
島根県松江市にある文学館
島根大学旧奥谷宿舎
島根県松江市にある洋館
島根県立八雲立つ風土記の丘
島根県の風土記の丘。
島根県立美術館
島根県松江市にある美術館
松江フォーゲルパーク
島根県松江市にあるテーマーパーク
松江歴史館
島根県松江市にある博物館
Origins and History of Hōran Enya (the annual grand procession festival of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine)
The festival is said to have begun after a poor harvest in 1648, when the sacred spirit of Jōzan Inari Shrine was carried by boat to Atakaya Shrine to pray for abundant harvests.
In 1808, after fishermen from Magata rescued the mikoshi boat in stormy weather, oar boats began serving as towing boats.
The interval was once extended to every 12 years, but the festival has now returned to its customary schedule of every 10 years.
Official information
Official information is available on the Hōran Enya official website.
You can check details about the festival, viewing locations, traffic restrictions, and past dates.
At present, the next festival is listed as taking place in 2029.
Source: ホーランエンヤ伝承館
Hōran Enya (the annual grand procession festival of Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine) at a Glance
Hōran Enya is a boat-based Shinto ritual held every 10 years, connecting Matsue Jōzan Inari Shrine and Atakaya Shrine.
Its main highlights include a procession of about 100 boats and dances performed aboard 5 oar boats. Local people have carried on the tradition.
The festival will not be held in 2026; the next one is scheduled for 2029.
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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