Name: Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-20
Location: Kanegasaki-gu Shrine, Kanegasaki Green Space, and Tsuruga Port

Set on Tsuruga Port, the Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival carries on a tale of boat revelry from the Nanboku-cho period. Boats carrying from Kanegasaki-gu Shrine sail in procession, and shirabyoshi dances bring this historic ritual to life today.

About Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival

Ofune-asobi Kangen Festivalの記録写真：File:Shira-byoshi dance in Ofuna-asobi-kangensai Festival.jpg — Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: TR15336300101 File:Shira-byoshi dance in Ofuna-asobi-kangensai Festival.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.

Ofune-asobi Kangen Festivalの記録写真：File:Ships of Ofuna-asobi-kangensai Festival.jpg — Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: TR15336300101 File:Ships of Ofuna-asobi-kangensai Festival.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.

The Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival is a passed down at Kanegasaki-gu Shrine in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture.

Inspired by a tale of boat revelry during the battles over Kanegasaki Castle in the Nanboku-cho period, boats carrying mikoshi sail around Tsuruga Port.

The event brings together historical storytelling, gagaku, and dance at Kanegasaki-gu Shrine, Kanegasaki Green Space, and the harbor.

Source: 御船遊管絃祭 - Wikipedia / 歳事一覧 | 福井のイベント(祭り・文化・観光)情報をご紹介 | ふくい四季のしあわせ綴り

Festival highlights

A highlight is the procession of boats decorated with flags and streamers, carrying mikoshi around Tsuruga Port.

When the boats gather in front of the boardwalk at Kanegasaki Green Space, a shirabyoshi dance is offered.

The event recreates boat revelry from the Nanboku-cho period as a modern-day Shinto ritual, bringing boats at sea, gagaku, and dance together in a continuous sequence.

A graceful historical pageant passed down in Tsuruga, with boats carrying mikoshi sailing around the harbor

What to expect

The event begins at the main hall of Kanegasaki-gu Shrine, where offerings, prayers, and gagaku are presented.

The mikoshi is then carried from Kanegasaki-gu Shrine to Kanegasaki Green Space, placed aboard a boat, and taken around the harbor with accompanying boats.

After the boats gather in front of the green space, a shirabyoshi dance is offered, and visitors are served shirozake at the end.

How to take part

The Ofuneasobi Kangen Festival is held as a shinji at Kanegasaki Shrine. Visitors can enjoy watching the mikoshi procession, the boats’ journey, and the of a shirabyoshi dance.

At the end, visitors are served shirozake.

Location and access

Venue and address: Kanegasaki-gu Shrine, Kanegasaki Green Space, and Tsuruga Port / Location of Kanegasaki-gu Shrine: 1-4 Kanegasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture
Train and bus: About 8 minutes from JR Tsuruga Station on the Gurutto Sightseeing Bus; get off at Kanegasaki-gu Shrine stop
By car: About 10 minutes by car from Tsuruga IC on the Hokuriku Expressway / About 10 minutes by taxi from JR Tsuruga Station

Source: 敦賀観光公式 · Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival

Address Kanegasaki Shrine: 1-4 Kanegasakicho, Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture

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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20日（火）に開催される予定として案内されていました。

The shinji takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is scheduled to include a ceremony at the , a mikoshi procession, boat festivities in the harbor, and the hono of a shirabyoshi dance.

Source: Mifune Asobi Kangen Festival - Eveco | Events in Japan

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

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Tips for your visit

Photo and data sources

写真：visiter / Public domain

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Origins and History of Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival

The Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival has its roots in the battles over Kanegasaki Castle during the Nanboku-cho period.

In 1336, it is said that boats were set afloat on October 20, when the enemy siege was temporarily lifted, to entertain Prince Takanaga, Prince Tsunenaga, and others inside Kanegasaki Castle, who enjoyed music while gazing at the moon and snow.

Inspired by this tale, the ritual is now held in October to admire the autumn leaves and offer gagaku and dance.

Official information

For event details and the latest updates, visit the Ofune-asobi Kangen Festival page on the official Tsuruga tourism website.

Source: 敦賀・若狭エリア 6つの市町に根付く祭事たち | FUKUI若狭ONEweb 福井「若狭路」の観光サイト

Visit the official website