Kudoyama’s autumn festival, with banners and a mikoshi procession
Niugo-shōfu Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/25Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Fourth Sunday of every October / Every year
- Location
- Niugo-shōfu Shrine
- Area
- Wakayama Prefecture・Kudoyama Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 30 min–4 h · bullet train + connecting 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An autumn grand festival held at Niugo-shōfu Shrine in Kudoyama, featuring a procession and performances dedicated to the deities.
About Niugo-shōfu Festival
Niugo-shōfu Festival is an annual grand festival held at Niugo-shōfu Shrine in Kudoyama, Wakayama Prefecture.
Locally, it is also known as the “Kanshōfu Festival” or “Autumn Festival.”
The festival consists of ceremonies, performing arts dedicated to the deities, and a mikoshi procession. It has been handed down as a local celebration praying for a good harvest, the safety of households, and peace in the community.
Source: 丹生官省符祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the mikoshi procession from Niugo-shōfu Shrine to the Sagahama on the Kinokawa River.
Led by an Ōnusa wand, the traditional parade includes a karabitsu chest, tall lanterns, a sun banner, and a moon banner.
Dances dedicated to the deities and performances by local groups are also held on the , making this a festival where you can experience both religious rites and performing arts.
Kudoyama’s autumn festival, with banners and a mikoshi procession
What to expect
The events center on ceremonies at the main shrine, followed by performances dedicated to the deities and the mikoshi procession.
According to the 2026 schedule, the main shrine ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and the Shōkonsha ceremony at 11 a.m., with offerings of tea and flowers and a performance of the Ura-yasu no Mai dance.
A prayer ceremony for children born that year is scheduled for the afternoon, followed by the procession at 2 p.m.
Source: 官省符祭 | 伊都郡九度山町 | 子供とお出かけ情報「いこーよ」
How to take part
Applications are being invited for dance maidens in 2026.
The dedicated performances include dances offered to the shrine and performances by dance groups.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival centers on Niukanshofu Shrine (835 Jisonin, Kudoyama, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture) and proceeds to the Sagahama Otabisho by the Kinokawa River.
- Train and bus
It is about a 25-minute walk from Kudoyama Station on the Nankai Koya Line.
Address 835 Jisonin, Kudoyama, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture
Dates and season
In 2026, it is scheduled to be held on October 25 (Sunday).
The main shrine festival begins at 10 a.m., the Shokonsha Shrine festival at 11 a.m., and the procession (watari) at 2 p.m.
As part of the Niukanshofu , tea and flowers are also offered, along with the Urayasu no Mai dance.
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 Wakayama Prefecture / Kudoyama Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, the Main Shrine Festival is scheduled for 10 a.m., the Shokonsha Shrine Festival for 11 a.m., and the procession for 2 p.m.
If you would like to see the mikoshi procession, visiting around the time of the afternoon procession should help you plan your visit.
There are days when Shichi-Go-San prayers cannot be held because of event arrangements, so please check in advance if you would like to receive a prayer.
Nearby attractions
Attractions near the venue include Jison-in Temple, Shōriji Temple and Shiyū-en, Kakinosato Kudoyama Roadside Station, and the Kōya Pilgrimage Route’s Chōishi-michi Viewpoint.
Nearby attractions include the Kudoyama Sanada Museum, Sanada-an, and the Matsuyama Tsunejirō Memorial Museum.
You can plan an itinerary that combines the festival with an opportunity to explore the history and culture of Kudoyama.
Source: 丹生官省符神社｜スポット｜和歌山県公式観光サイト
Niugo-shōfu Shrine
九度山町にある神社
Origins and History of Niugo-shōfu Festival
According to one tradition, the festival commemorates the day Niugo-shōfu Shrine received an official decree, or “kanpu,” from the Council of State and the Ministry of Popular Affairs at the imperial court.
Wakayama Prefecture’s cultural information says the festival is thought to have begun around 1049, in the late Heian period, and explains that it originated as a day when people did not have to pay taxes.
The custom of having the fathers of boys born during the year carry the mikoshi continued until around the early Showa period.
Source: 官省符祭 | 和歌山県文化情報アーカイブ
Official information
The official website of Niugo-shōfu Shrine is listed.
For information about festival events and ceremonies, you can refer to the shrine’s official guidance.
Niugo-shōfu Festival at a Glance
Niugo-shōfu Festival is an autumn grand festival held at Niugo-shōfu Shrine in Kudoyama.
During the mikoshi procession to the Sagahama Otabisho, a traditional parade accompanied by banners and ceremonial objects makes its way along the route.
In 2026, the main shrine ceremony, performances dedicated to the deities, and the procession from 2 p.m. are scheduled for October 25.
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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