A summer festival in Nakatsu, where Gion floats and mikoshi enliven the castle town to the sound of hayashi
Nakatsu Gion
The 2026 edition of Nakatsu Gion has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/24 〜 2026/07/26Ended
- Season / frequency
- For 3 days each year, from the Friday after July 20 through Sunday / Every year
- Location
- Kuronohama Shrine (Shimogion), Nakatsu Shrine (Kamigion), Fukuzawa-dori, and other locations
- Area
- Oita Prefecture・Nakatsu City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/23
Nakatsu Gion is a summer festival that brings together Shimogion at Kuronohama Shrine and Kamigion at Nakatsu Shrine, with Gion floats and traveling through the castle town. Highlights include folk dances offered at Takashime Crossing and the powerful maneuvers of the Gion floats.
About Nakatsu Gion
Nakatsu Gion is a festival held for 3 days each July in the castle town of Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, to pray for the end of epidemics and for continued good health.
The two Gion festivals—Shimogion, centered on Kuronohama Shrine, and Kamigion, centered on Nakatsu Shrine—are held on the same day and together are called Nakatsu Gion.
Lacquered Gion floats and mikoshi process through the castle town, with offering performances presented at street corners.
Source: 中津祇園とは | 中津祇園保存協議会 / 中津祇園 | 日本一の「おんせん県」大分県の観光情報公式サイト
Festival highlights
The highlights are the ceremonial procession of 13 lacquered Gion floats and 2 mikoshi through the castle town.
Folk dances and other performances are offered on the stages of the Gion floats beneath the takashime.
Highlights include the spirited “yaritori” turns at intersections, the straight-line “bo-neri” of Shimogion, and Kamigion’s “mawashi-neri,” which showcases steering skill.
A summer festival in Nakatsu, where Gion floats and mikoshi enliven the castle town to the sound of
What to expect
During the festival, Gion floats and mikoshi make a ceremonial procession from the shrines through the castle town, with offering performances at Takashime Crossing.
In Gion hayashi, the kane and shime-daiko keep a “chikichin kon kon” rhythm, with the tempo and dynamics changing to match the floats’ speed.
Large groups pull the Gion floats, coordinating their movements with the ropes and steering to perform bo-neri and mawashi-neri.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kuronohama Shrine (Shimogion): 447 Ryuocho, Nakatsu City / Nakatsu Shrine (Kamigion): 1273-1 Ninocho, Nakatsu City / Fukuzawa-dori: near Furuuocho, Nakatsu City
- Train and bus
About a 30-minute walk from JR Nakatsu Station to Kuronohama Shrine / about a 20-minute walk to Nakatsu Shrine / about a 15-minute walk to Fukuzawa-dori
- By car
Not listed
- Parking
Not listed
Source: 中津祇園｜活動｜Visit Oita - The Official Tourism Website of Oita,Kyushu,Japan
Address Kuronohama Shrine: 447 Ryuocho, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture / Nakatsu Shrine: 1273-1 Ninocho, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture / Fukuzawa-dori: near Furuuocho, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the schedule includes the “Neighborhood Circuit” on July 23 (Thursday), “Pulling Out” on the 24th (Friday), “Morning Floats” on the 25th (Saturday), and “Return Floats” on the 26th (Sunday).
The festival as a whole runs from July 24 (Friday) through the 26th (Sunday).
Source: 令和8年度（2026年）中津祇園の日程 | 中津祇園保存協議会
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 Oita Prefecture / Nakatsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 event takes place at several locations, including Kuronohama Shrine, Nakatsu Shrine, and Fukuzawa-dori.
Check the relevant section of the schedule information before visiting, as procession routes and times vary by event.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Nakatsu Castle, the Fukuzawa Yukichi Former Residence and Fukuzawa Memorial Museum, and Yabakei.
All are facilities listed as related tourist attractions on the Nakatsu Gion information page.
中津城
大分県中津市にあった城
中津市歴史博物館
大分県中津市にある博物館
大江医家史料館
大分県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
村上医家史料館
大分県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
耶馬渓風物館
大分県中津市にある展示館
Origins and History of Nakatsu Gion
The oldest known record concerning the Shimogion section of Nakatsu Gion states that in 1430, fishermen from Shimashojiura invited a divided spirit of Gion from Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto and held a festival.
Kamigion is said to have begun in 1762, when Kyomachi donated Gion hayashi.
Gion floats in their present form first appeared in 1683, and the prevailing theory is that the practice was introduced through economic ties with the Kansai region.
Official information
The Nakatsu Gion Preservation Council’s official website provides an overview of the festival, its history, schedule, and planned processions.
The 2026 event information also includes a procession map on the schedule page.
Nakatsu Gion at a Glance
Nakatsu Gion is a traditional summer festival in Nakatsu City, where Shimogion and Kamigion are held on the same day.
13 lacquered Gion floats and 2 mikoshi travel through the castle town, with folk dances and hayashi performed as offerings at street corners.
The “yaritori” at corners, as well as the bo-neri and mawashi-neri, showcase the skill and coordination of the people who make the festival possible.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/23
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