Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival

Festival highlights

The main highlight is when all 7 taiko floats gather for the evening festival on the first day, and their red lanterns are lit from the bonfires at Nihonmatsu Shrine.

Each taiko float is decorated with around 300 lanterns and proceeds through the city at night, glowing red.

You can also look out for differences between neighborhoods, such as the young men’s group’s calls and festival music, the taiko floats turning on slopes, and the tall bamboo decorations on their roofs.

Source: 二本松の提灯祭り | 二本松市観光連盟

The lantern-lit nights and traditional sounds of Nihonmatsu, brought to life by the taiko floats of 7 neighborhoods

What to expect

The festival takes place over 3 days: the evening festival, the main festival, and the closing festival.

During the evening festival, all 7 floats parade through the city at night and gather in front of Nihonmatsu Station. The main festival centers on the mikoshi procession and a joint parade of all 7 neighborhoods.

During the closing festival, the floats parade through their respective neighborhoods during the day, then split into 4 neighborhoods and 3 neighborhoods for joint nighttime processions, with festival music ringing into the night.

How to take part

一般の見物客は太鼓台に直接触れられませんが、運行場所によっては、太鼓台を引くための綱を若連や小若と一緒に引けます。

参加できる場所や状況は運行現場の指示に従う必要があります。

太鼓台本体には触れず、綱をまたがないなど、祭りの進行と安全を尊重して参加してください。

Location and access

Venue and address

二本松神社（二本松市本町1-61）を起点に、二本松市内を太鼓台が巡行します。

宵祭りは二本松駅前に集合して終わります。

Train and bus

JR二本松駅前が運行地点として案内されています。

By car

祭礼時は二本松市役所、県立霞ヶ城公園、二本松市文化センター、二本松市立二本松南小学校グラウンド、市民交流センターの臨時・有料駐車場が案内されています。

Parking

市民交流センターは1時間100円で、施設の開館時間内に入場した車両は最初の1時間が無料です。

二本松南小学校グラウンドは、雨でぬかるみがひどい場合に閉鎖されることがあります。

路上駐車は禁止されています。

Address 福島県二本松市本町1-61（二本松神社）

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Dates and season

2026年の開催案内（掲載日程は終了しています）

2026年は10月3日（土）から10月5日（月）まで開催される予定として案内されていました。

初日が宵祭り、4日（日）が本祭り、5日（月）が後祭りです。

例年は10月の第1土・日・月曜日に行われ、2026年もこの日程で案内されています。

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

見物時は歩きたばこを避け、ゴミを持ち帰るか所定のゴミ箱へ捨ててください。

強引な割り込みや押し合いは危険なので、周囲の人、とくに小さな子どもに配慮して観覧します。

太鼓台には触れず、綱をまたがず、若連や警察官、交通警備員の指示に従ってください。

Nearby attractions

Sightseeing spots in Nihonmatsu City that you can visit alongside the festival include Kasumigajo Park (the site of Nihonmatsu Castle) and the Nihonmatsu Castle Information Center.

Kasumigajo Park is a park centered on the site of Nihonmatsu Castle. At the Nihonmatsu Castle Information Center, you can learn about the history of the castle site and the Nihonmatsu Corps of Youth, as well as find sightseeing information for the city.

祭りの臨時駐車場として県立霞ヶ城公園が案内された年もあります。

Source: 観光スポット | 二本松市観光連盟

Castles and historic sitesNihonmatsu City

二本松城

福島県の城

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Temples and shrinesNihonmatsu City

Nihonmatsu Shrine

福島県二本松市本町にある神社

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写真：Suikotei / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Tourist attractionsNihonmatsu City

東北サファリパーク

福島県二本松市の動物園

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写真：Akikotohokusafari / CC BY-SA 4.0

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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 Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival

The festival is said to have begun after Niwa Mitsushige became lord of Nihonmatsu Castle. To foster reverence among the people under his rule, he enshrined Nihonmatsu Shrine and allowed them to visit freely.

The festival dates changed from being arranged around August in the lunar calendar; since the 1918 Nihonmatsu Great Fire, the festival has been held for 3 days starting on October 4.

Since 2019, it has been held for 3 days starting on the first Saturday of October.

Official information

Festival information, traffic restrictions, and parade routes are provided by the official Nihonmatsu City website and the Nihonmatsu Tourism Federation.

Information about the festival’s history and its cultural property designation is available on the official Nihonmatsu City website.

For inquiries, contact the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival Executive Committee (Tourism Promotion Section, Nihonmatsu City Tourism Division) at 0243-55-5122.

Source: 二本松の提灯祭り | 観光 | 二本松市公式ウェブサイト

Visit the official website

Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival at a Glance

The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is a prefecture-designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in which taiko floats from 7 neighborhoods parade through the city as part of the annual festival of Nihonmatsu Shrine.

Highlights include taiko floats illuminated by around 300 lanterns, the lighting from the bonfires, calls, and festival music.

例年は10月第1土・日・月曜日の3日間です。