Miya Festival

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the sea procession, in which 4 dashi are pulled into the water.

The dashi are pulled by the men of the parishioner community, traveling about 300 meters in front of the coast amid shouts and splashing water.

The neighborhood processions also feature traditional performances offered to the deities, including the Kuguri Taiko, Susanoo Dance, children’s dance, Yakko, kagura, the Seven Lucky Gods, and Renjishi.

The dashi illuminated by lanterns at night are another highlight.

Source: 三谷祭 - 愛知県蒲郡市公式ホームページ

A 300-year-old festival rooted in Gamagori, where dashi travel through the sea

What to expect

The festival centers on the preliminary observance on Saturday and the Shinko procession on Sunday.

Shrine parishioners from the town’s 6 districts each perform their processions, parading between Yatsurugi Shrine and Wakamiya Shrine while pulling dashi.

On Sunday, the sea procession takes place, with 4 dashi pulled from the shore into the sea.

The dashi are distinctive for their steering poles and wide wheels, designed to make them easier to move through the water and less likely to tip over.

How to take part

Many male ujiko pull the dashi through the streets.

No way for general visitors to take part in running the festival is provided, so this is a festival best enjoyed mainly as a spectator.

During the sea togyo, you can watch up close as the dashi, pulled by ujiko, makes its way through the sea.

The ujiko belonging to the districts of Miya-cho are at the center of pulling the dashi and processing between Yatsurugi Shrine and Wakamiya Shrine.

Each district processes from the gate entrance of both shrines to the sacred presence, presenting local performing arts such as kuguri taiko, the dance of Susanoo, children's dances, yakko, kagura, the Seven Lucky Gods, and renjishi.

No registration desk or application procedure for general visitors has been announced.

Location and access

Venue and address

Yatsurugi Shrine and other sites in Miya-cho, Gamagori / 139 Nanahada, Miya-cho, Gamagori 443-0021

Train and bus

Walk from Mikawa-Miya Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line

By car

About 40 minutes from the Otowa-Gamagori IC on the Tomei Expressway

Parking

Not listed

Source: 天下の奇祭「三谷祭」 | イベント検索 | 【公式】愛知県の観光サイトAichi Now

Address 139 Nanahada, Miya-cho, Gamagori, Aichi 443-0021

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Dates and season

In 2026, the event is scheduled to take place on October 24 (Saturday) and the 25th (Sunday).

The announced schedule is 10:40 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. on the 24th for the Shūgakusai, and 8 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. on the 25th for the Shinkōsai.

However, in 2026, the sea procession was canceled because the seabed and exit ramp are in poor condition, making it unsafe to operate the dashi.

The festival events will take place as scheduled, except for the sea procession.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

Traffic restrictions will be in place around the venue in 2026, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.

The sea procession has been canceled for safety reasons, and the event in which the dashi travel across the sea will not take place.

When visiting to watch the festival events, please travel in accordance with the traffic restrictions around the venue.

Nearby attractions

Miya Onsen is near the festival venues, and the sea procession takes place on the coast below Miya Onsen.

Yatsurugi Shrine and Wakamiya Shrine are listed as venues for the Miya Festival, which unfolds around the two shrines and their surrounding neighborhoods.

Nearby attractions include Miya Onsen, the Gamagori City Museum of Maritime Literature, Takeshima Aquarium, and Takeshima.

Source: 三谷祭 | 対象スポット一覧 | 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 / 天下奇祭 三谷祭 | 节日 | AichiNow-爱知旅游官方网站

Parks and gardensGamagori City

とよおか湖公園

愛知県蒲郡市にある公園

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写真：A301m089 / Public domain

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Temples and shrinesGamagori City

八百富神社

愛知県蒲郡市の神社

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写真：Yanajin33 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Attractions in the same municipality. Check each attraction’s official website for travel distances from the venue and current opening information.

Origins and History of Miya Festival

The Miya Festival is said to have begun in Genroku 9 (1696), when Takeuchi Sazaemon, the village headman of Miya Village, dreamed that Yatsurugi Daimyojin was making a procession to Wakamiya Shrine. He took this as a divine revelation and held a ritual procession.

The festival gradually grew in scale, and 4 lavish dashi were built between the Meiji era and the early Showa era.

The sea procession was discontinued when Miya Beach was reclaimed, but it was revived in Heisei 8 (1996).

Official information

三谷祭の公式サイトは 三谷祭の公式サイト↗ です。

The site provides event information, details about the preliminary festival and the Shinko Festival, access, traffic restrictions, and introductions to each district and its dashi.

For the latest information on getting around and viewing the festival on the day, check the event and traffic restriction information on the official website.

Miya Festival at a Glance

The Miya Festival is a festival in Gamagori City known for its dashi procession connecting Yatsurugi Shrine and Wakamiya Shrine, and for the sea procession along the coast.

In 2026, it will be held on October 24 and 25, with the preliminary festival, the Shinko Festival, neighborhood processions, and performing arts offerings scheduled.

Visitors can enjoy the sight of 4 dashi being pulled by shrine parishioners through the sea, as well as the dashi illuminated by lanterns at night.