A festival where dashi carrying 6.5-meter-tall warrior figures parade through Mikuni
Mikuni Festival
The 2026 edition of Mikuni Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/19 〜 2026/05/21Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, May 19–21 / Every year
- Location
- Mikuni Shrine and procession routes around Mikuni-cho
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Sakai City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Special seating costs 5,000 yen per seat, or 6,000 yen on the day.
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Mikuni Festival, carried on as the annual festival of Mikuni Shrine. On the central day, 6 carrying warrior figures parade through town to the music of flutes, drums, and shamisen.
About Mikuni Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 藤谷良秀(Fujitani Yoshihide) File:Mikuni festival 2022.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: 藤谷良秀 File:Mikuni festival Katsuie Shibata 2011.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 藤谷良秀 File:Mikuni festival ShojyoMai 2011.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Mikuni Festival is the annual festival held at Mikuni Shrine in Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, and is considered one of the three major festivals of Hokuriku.
Dashi carrying warrior figures parade through Mikuni to the music of flutes, drums, and shamisen.
The festival runs from the opening of the shrine on May 15 through the Post-Festival on the 21st, with 6 dashi gathering on the central day, the 20th.
Rooted in the local community, this festival keeps alive the history and everyday life of the port town of Mikuni.
Source: 三国祭とは | 【公式サイト】福井県 坂井市 北陸三大祭 三国祭 | 三国祭保存振興会 / 三国祭｜イベント｜【公式】福井県 観光/旅行サイト ｜ ふくいドットコム
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the 6 dashi carrying warrior figures about 6.5 meters tall that appear on the central day.
Figures depicting people and scenes such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Maeda Keiji, Tōyama Kinsan, and Ikari Tomomori adorn the floats, which set out from in front of Mikuni Shrine and parade through town.
Highlights include dashi moving through narrow lanes and main streets, making a dramatic turn in front of the station, and returning in the evening.
Source: 【福井県坂井市】19日から北陸三大祭「三国祭」 山車６基いざ出陣！ | 坂井市役所のプレスリリース
A festival where dashi carrying 6.5-meter-tall warrior figures parade through Mikuni
What to expect
The festival follows a program that includes the shrine-opening ceremony, dashi displays, the dashi offering festival, the Grand Festival Ceremony, the evening dashi procession, the Mid-Festival, and the Post-Festival Ceremony.
On the night of May 19, the dashi procession is led by tall lanterns; on the 20th, the and 6 dashi gather in front of Mikuni Shrine.
After the musical performances and the Hakkosai ceremony, the dashi parade through town and return to their respective dashi storehouses from evening into night.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：特別観覧席は1席5,000円、当日は6,000円。
Location and access
- Venue and address
Mikuni Shrine (6-2-80 Sanno, Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture).
The dashi parade through Mikuni town, starting in front of Mikuni Shrine.
- Train and bus
Mikuni Station on the Echizen Railway is the shuttle bus stop.
成田山福井別院・三国運動公園と三国駅を結ぶ無料シャトルバスが、10:00〜21:00の間に順次運行します。
- By car
Parking is available at Naritasan Fukui Betsuin or Mikuni Sports Park.
- Parking
Parking at both facilities is listed.
The shuttle bus is free.
Address 6-2-80 Sanno, Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Mikuni Festival was scheduled to run from May 19 through the 21st.
The Grand Festival Ceremony and evening dashi procession take place on the 19th, the Mid-Festival on the 20th, and the Post-Festival Ceremony on the 21st.
On the 20th, the festival’s central day, 6 dashi gather in front of Mikuni Shrine before processing through town together with the mikoshi.
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 Fukui Prefecture / Sakai City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the central-day procession, the dashi pass in front of Mikuni Shrine, by the station, and near the former Morita Bank, so the best viewing location varies depending on the time.
Dashi storehouses may be closed during dashi displays due to rain, strong winds, or local circumstances.
If you arrive by car, you can take a free shuttle bus from the listed parking lots.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Mikuni Shrine, the former Morita Bank Main Branch, the former Kishina Residence, Machinokura, Mikuni Minato Retro, and the Sakai City Ryusho Museum.
Zuiunzan Kinpōji Temple and Takiya-ji Temple are also introduced as nearby attractions.
Along with the festival procession and dashi displays, this is a place to experience the historic streets and culture of Mikuni.
一筆啓上 日本一短い手紙の館
福井県坂井市にある博物館
三國神社
福井県坂井市にある神社
写真：藤谷良秀(Fujitani Yoshihide) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
國神神社
坂井市にある神社
坂井市龍翔博物館
福井県坂井市にある博物館
福井県児童科学館
福井県坂井市にある文化施設
福井県総合グリーンセンター
福井県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
越前松島水族館
福井県坂井市にある水族館
越前竹人形の里
福井県坂井市にある博物館
写真：藤谷良秀(Fujitani Yoshihide) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
雄島灯台
福井県坂井市にある灯台
Origins and History of Mikuni Festival
The Mikuni Festival is the annual festival of Mikuni Shrine, dating back to the mid-Edo period. It is said that the tradition of placing large figures on dashi began about 300 years ago.
In the mid-Meiji period, the dashi are said to have exceeded 10 meters in height; today, the tradition continues with dashi about 6.5 meters tall.
Against the backdrop of Mikuni Port’s prosperity and the determination of the local people, the traditions of warrior figures and festival music are preserved.
Official information
You can check the Mikuni Festival Preservation and Promotion Association’s official website for official information.
The site provides details on dates, the dashi, procession routes, parking and shuttle buses, and special events.
The Mikuni Festival Preservation and Promotion Association, located inside the Mikuni Community Center, is also listed as a contact for inquiries about preserving and organizing the festival.
Mikuni Festival at a Glance
The Mikuni Festival is an annual festival in Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, centered on Mikuni Shrine, and runs from May 19 through the 21st.
On the 20th, the festival’s central day, 6 dashi carrying warrior figures about 6.5 meters tall gather and process through town with the mikoshi and festival music.
The venue is Mikuni Shrine. If you arrive by car, you can take a free shuttle bus from the designated parking lots.
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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