Mikawa’s Town Culture, Brought to Life by Trumpets and Floats
Okaeri Festival
The 2026 edition of Okaeri Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/16 〜 2026/05/17Ended
- Season / frequency
- The 3rd Saturday and Sunday of May each year / Every year
- Location
- Fujitsuka Shrine, Takahama , and the town center of the Mikawa area
- Area
- Ishikawa Prefecture・Hakusan City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A spring festival in which a and 13 floats, led by trumpets, parade through Mikawa, a town with a history shaped by Kitamaebune trade.
About Okaeri Festival
The Okaeri Festival is the spring annual festival of Fujitsuka Shrine, held in the Mikawa area of Hakusan City.
Over 2 days—the Shinkosai and the Kankosai—the mikoshi and 13 floats parade through the town of Mikawa.
It has been passed down as a festival rooted in the culture of a town that prospered through Kitamaebune trade and the craftsmanship of Mikawa Buddhist altars.
The neighborhood responsible for the “Okaeri-suji,” the route taken by the deity on the second day, changes every 10 years.
Source: 美川おかえり祭り｜【公式】白山市観光・旅行情報サイト｜うらら白山人 / おかえり祭り - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
Highlights include the mikoshi, led by bearers and trumpet players dressed in formal kimono and hakama, and 13 floats, each distinctively decorated by its neighborhood.
The floats feature techniques used in Mikawa Buddhist altars, including lacquer painting, gold leaf, metalwork, and carving.
Lanterns are lit at night, and at street corners you may see the floats being turned by lifting their front wheels.
On the second day, the mikoshi and floats return along the “Okaeri-suji,” a route that comes around once every 10 years.
Mikawa’s Town Culture, Brought to Life by Trumpets and Floats
What to expect
On the first day, an early-morning “assembly trumpet” sounds, and the mikoshi, trumpet players, 13 floats, and lion dancers leave Fujitsuka Shrine and parade through town.
The floats arrive at the Takahama Otabisho around evening, followed by the mikoshi.
On the second day, the procession leaves the Otabisho at night and parades through town along the Okaeri-suji route, returning to Fujitsuka Shrine in the early hours of the following morning.
Along with the procession, you can also take note of the roles and attire of the townspeople who support the festival.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The Mikawa area of Hakusan City, centered around Fujitsuka Shrine and the Takahama Otabisho.
Address: Mikawa, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
- Train and bus
You can get there from IR Mikawa Station.
- By car
From Mikawa IC, head southwest on the prefectural road for 5 minutes.
Address Mikawa, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival was scheduled for May 16 (Saturday) and the 17th (Sunday).
It is usually held on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of May, with the Shinkosai on the first day and the Kankosai on the second.
In 2026, the Okaeri-suji route is in Imamachi, and on the second night, the mikoshi and floats depart from the Otabisho.
On the first day, the procession begins with an early-morning “assembly trumpet.” The floats are scheduled to arrive at the Takahama Otabisho at around 7 p.m., followed by the mikoshi at around 9:30 p.m.
Accommodation and hotels PR
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Tips for your visit
The procession passes through the town of Mikawa, continuing into the night on the first day and from after 7 p.m. until the early hours of the following morning on the second day.
Depending on the time and location, you may have to wait for the mikoshi or floats to pass. Please follow local instructions and directions from staff.
When watching from along roads used by the floats, it is important to choose a spot that does not obstruct the procession.
In 2026, the Okaeri-suji route is in Imamachi.
Nearby attractions
Around the festival venue, Fujitsuka Shrine and the Takahama Otabisho offer a glimpse into Mikawa’s festival culture and Kitamaebune history.
The Ishikawa Roots Exchange Center features a model of the Okaeri Festival, an actual float wheel, models of Kitamaebune ships, and more.
The Mikawa area also has water-drawing points for the Hakusan Mikawa Spring Water Group, offering a way to learn about the town’s natural environment and local culture alongside the festival.
Please check facility opening days and terms of use before your visit.
Source: 北前船のまち美川散策｜おかえり祭りのルーツから美川温泉まで魅力たっぷり - ぐるっと白山
白山比咩神社
石川県白山市にある神社
写真：dennis bloodnok (bloodnok) / CC BY 2.0
Photo source ·
石川県ふれあい昆虫館
石川県白山市にある博物館
Origins and History of Okaeri Festival
The festival is said to have originated around 250–300 years ago, after the townscape of Mikawa—once a thriving port of call for Kitamaebune ships—was established during or after the Genroku era.
However, fires—including a major fire that destroyed the entire town—have occurred, and no historical records directly documenting the festival’s origins remain.
A notice concerning the festival from the Motoyoshi Magistrate’s Office dates to 1811, and it is said that the festival was already being held around that time.
In 2001, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Official information
Event dates, venue, and transportation information are provided on “Urara Hakusan-jin,” the Hakusan City Tourism Federation’s tourism information website.
The official website of Fujitsuka Shrine, which is involved in the festival, is also listed.
Imamachi is listed as the Okaeri-suji route for 2026.
Okaeri Festival at a Glance
The Okaeri Festival is the spring annual festival of Fujitsuka Shrine, during which the mikoshi and 13 floats parade through Mikawa, Hakusan City.
Features include the attire of the trumpet players and bearers, floats decorated with lacquer and gold leaf, and lanterns at night.
In 2026, the festival was held on May 16 and the 17th. Imamachi is listed as the Okaeri-suji route.
This festival offers a chance to experience the history of the Kitamaebune ships and the craftsmanship of Mikawa Buddhist altars through the town’s procession.
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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