Niitsu Summer Festival

This summer festival unfolds in Niitsu Honcho, Akiha Ward, Niigata City, with Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori dances and processions. Centered on the annual festival of Horide Shrine, the local streets and become the setting for the festivities.

About Niitsu Summer Festival

Niitsu Summer Festival is a summer festival held around Niitsu Honcho in Akiha Ward, Niigata City.

It consists of several events, including the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori, dashi processions, and the annual festival of Horide Shrine.

A distinctive feature is the contrast between folk dancing and dashi processions in the streets of Niitsu.

Local schools and residents also take part in the events, which have been passed down as part of the summer landscape.

Source: にいつ夏まつり｜新潟のイベント｜【公式】新潟県のおすすめ観光・旅行情報！にいがた観光ナビ / あきは区役所だより第467号（令和8年9月20日）新潟市秋葉区

Festival highlights

Highlights include the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori, with dancers moving through the town in matching and woven hats, and the dashi festival, where ornate floats parade around Niitsu Honcho.

The intense collisions between dashi offer a thrilling contrast to the quieter folk dancing.

and dashi processions are also held during the annual festival of Horide Shrine.

Walk along Niitsu Honcho-dori and around the shrine to experience the distinct atmosphere of the different events.

Source: 【新潟市秋葉区】令和8年度にいつ夏まつりが8月2日から開催。新津の夏を熱く彩る伝統の祭典がスタートします。 | 号外NET 新潟市江南区・秋葉区・南区

Niitsu’s summer, where folk dance meets the spectacle of dashi

What to expect

The festival features a series of events, including a performance in the grounds of Horide Shrine, the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori, and processions of dashi and mikoshi.

During the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori, dancers move along Niitsu Honcho-dori to the rhythm of the song leader.

At the dashi festival, floats from each neighborhood parade through the town, and moments when the floats collide are also a highlight.

Food stalls and activities for children are also announced for the dashi plaza and shrine grounds.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address

Niitsu Honcho Main Street, Niitsu Honcho-dori, and the area around Horide Shrine.

The address is Niitsu Honcho, Akiha Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture.

Train and bus

A 5-minute walk from Niitsu Station on the JR Shinetsu Main Line.

By car

A 10-minute drive from the Niitsu IC on the Ban-Etsu Expressway.

Parking

Paid parking is available for standard passenger cars.

Address Niitsu Honcho, Akiha Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: Aug
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Niigata Prefecture / Niigata City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

There is an announcement that the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori will be postponed until the following day in case of rain.

Since the dashi processions and dancing take place on the streets, watch from a place that does not obstruct the flow of the event.

In 2026, the dates and venues vary by event, so it’s a good idea to check the schedule for the event you want to see before setting out.

新潟市にある公園

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Photo and data sources

写真：User: (WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Origins and History of Niitsu Summer Festival

Niitsu Summer Festival is said to center on the annual festival of Horide Shrine.

Its origins are said to date to 1573, the first year of the Tensho era, in the early Azuchi–Momoyama period.

Today, events such as the Niitsu Matsuzaka-odori and dashi processions continue to take place on local streets and at the shrine.

Each neighborhood’s dashi enshrines its own deity, and neighborhood representatives also take part in organizing the festival procession.

Source: にいつ夏まつり - Wikipedia

Official information

The official information includes Horide Shrine’s official Niitsu Summer Festival page.

For the 2026 festival outline and the latest information on each event, refer to the festival’s official page and the organizers’ announcements.

Information for the Niitsu Festival Executive Committee is also listed as a contact.