Nomi Shinmeigu Grand Festival

Festival highlights

Highlights include the parade of 8 dashi through town and the floats’ arrival at the shrine, considered the festival’s climax.

During the dashi procession through town, stages are extended from the floats and children perform hand dances.

At night, dashi with lanterns lit head toward Shinmeigu, led by tall lanterns, and each float presents its own ceremonial dance.

Source: 能見神明宮大祭 - Wikipedia

Eight dashi brighten the streets of Okazaki, alongside dances offered in a tradition passed down through generations

What to expect

The first day begins with a purification rite for the dashi, followed by offerings of maiden dances, the evening festival and dashi gathering, a children’s procession with fireworks, and handheld fireworks, among other events.

On the second day, events progress through the mikoshi procession, a children’s procession, the dashi parade through town, maiden dances, and the floats’ arrival at the shrine.

On the following Monday, the concluding festival is held as a Shinto rite after the festival ends.

Location and access

Venue and address

Nomi Shinmeigu (42-1 Motonomicho, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture) and the surrounding area.

Train and bus

Take a Meitetsu Bus from Higashi-Okazaki Station and get off at Shinmeisha-mae. The shrine is a 3-minute walk from there.

You can also take a Meitetsu Bus from JR Okazaki Station to Shinmeisha-mae.

By car

It is about 8 minutes from the Okazaki exit on the Tomei Expressway.

Parking

There is no festival parking.

Source: 神明宮例大祭 | 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 / 能見神明宮大祭 | 節日 | AichiNow-愛知旅遊官方網站

Address 42-1 Motonomicho, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 Festival Information (The listed dates have passed)

In 2026, a pre-festival was scheduled for May 9 (Saturday), and the main festival for May 10 (Sunday).

On May 10, the schedule included the mikoshi procession at 8 a.m., the main festival at 12 p.m., a parade of dashi through town at 1 p.m., and the dashi departing to enter the shrine at 7:20 p.m.

The main festival is usually held on the second Sunday in May, with a pre-festival on the preceding Saturday and a closing festival on the following Monday.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The dashi procession and mikoshi procession travel through the shrine parishioner districts, so highlights can be found not only within the Shinmeigu shrine grounds but also on the surrounding roads and in the townscape.

If you plan to watch the dashi arrive at the shrine at night, keep in mind that this event takes place when the lanterns are lit.

No festival parking is available, and visitors are advised to use public transportation.

Nearby attractions

Along with the festival, places connected to Okazaki City’s history and culture are introduced, including Okazaki Castle and Okazaki Castle Park, Iga Hachimangu Shrine, and Hatcho Kura-dori, where Hatcho miso producers have their storehouses.

Okazaki Castle and Okazaki Castle Park are presented as places to experience the history of Okazaki as a castle town.

Hatcho Kura-dori is lined with miso storehouses and offers a glimpse of the old townscape.

Source: 岡崎観光きらり百選 - Wikipedia

Castles and historic sitesOkazaki City

岡崎城

愛知県の城

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写真：Akonnchiroll / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Facility data source

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 Nomi Shinmeigu Grand Festival

The origins of the Nomi Shinmeigu Grand Festival are said to date back to the mid-Edo period. Records from the time describe dashi parading through the shrine parishioner districts and children performing dances.

The mikoshi procession began in 1900. After dashi processions were suspended in 1936 due to the war, they resumed in 1952.

In 1968, the festival dates were changed to the Saturday and Sunday of May, and the festival has continued to this day.

Official information

公式案内として、岡崎市公式ホームページの「市指定：無形民俗文化財 能見神明宮大祭」を確認できます。

Information is provided on Nomi Shinmeigu’s location, an overview of the festival, its cultural property designation, and the timing of the eve festival, main festival, and concluding festival.

The official website of Nomi Shinmeigu is also listed.

Source: 能見神明宮｜岡崎の観光スポット｜岡崎おでかけナビ - 岡崎市観光協会公式サイト

Nomi Shinmeigu Grand Festival at a Glance

The Nomi Shinmeigu Grand Festival is a festival of dashi and mikoshi that conveys the culture of Okazaki’s castle town.

The main highlights are the parade of 8 dashi through town, children’s hand dances, the mikoshi procession, and the dashi arriving at the shrine with lanterns lit.

In 2026, the eve festival and main festival are scheduled for May 9 and 10. The venues are Nomi Shinmeigu and the surrounding shrine parishioner districts.