A Yoimiya festival and mikoshi festival passed down in Hiratsuka’s Okazaki district
Okazaki Shrine Festival (Sannōsha)
The 2026 edition of Okazaki Shrine Festival (Sannōsha) has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/08 〜 2026/10/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- The Yoimiya Festival is held every year on October 8, followed by the main festival on October 9 / Held annually
- Location
- Okazaki Shrine
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Hiratsuka City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Worship and participation in the main festival, and watching the procession and festival parade, are free. Prayers and blessings are charged separately.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This local festival is held at Okazaki Shrine in Okazaki, Hiratsuka City, with the Yoimiya Festival and main festival taking place on consecutive days. Alongside prayers before the deities, the mikoshi procession and festival parade connect the with the surrounding community.
About Okazaki Shrine Festival (Sannōsha)
The Okazaki Shrine Festival is a local festival held at Okazaki Shrine in Okazaki, Hiratsuka City.
The shrine enshrines Ōyamakui-no-Mikoto, Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Emperor Ōjin, Ōmononushi-no-Mikoto, and Sugawara no Michizane. Through prayers before the deities, visitors reaffirm their ties to the community.
The Yoimiya Festival and main festival take place on consecutive days, with worshippers and local residents watching the rites.
The festival prayers seek abundant harvests, peace and safety, and the security and prosperity of the community.
Source: 2026年 岡崎神社例祭 – 平塚の歴史と伝統が息づく秋の祭典 | 来たHUB 観光 イベント 祭り お得情報
Festival highlights
Highlights include the Yoimiya Festival on the eve and the rites on the day of the main festival.
The Yoimiya Festival features purification prayers and dedication ceremonies, and lanterns illuminate the shrine grounds.
On the day of the main festival, priests recite prayers, followed by prayers before the deities.
A mikoshi procession and festival parade by local children are also featured, making this an enjoyable event that connects the shrine with the surrounding community.
A Yoimiya festival and mikoshi festival passed down in Hiratsuka’s Okazaki district
What to expect
The festival proceeds in the order of the Yoimiya Festival, followed by the main festival.
The Yoimiya Festival features prayers welcoming the deities and dedication ceremonies, and the shrine grounds are prepared for the following day’s main festival.
On the day of the main festival, priests recite norito prayers and perform prayers, while worshippers observe the festival before the deities.
During the mikoshi procession and festival parade, you can watch the procession make its way through the community.
How to take part
As local residents or worshippers, you can watch the festival rites, mikoshi procession, and festival parade.
Information says that worship and participation in the festival itself are free.
Roles such as carrying the mikoshi involve local organizers, so please follow on-site guidance.
General visitors can attend and watch the rites at the Yoimiya Festival or main festival.
No application or ticket is required for the main festival itself.
If you would like prayers or blessings, you can apply individually at the shrine office.
Check on-site guidance for how to join the mikoshi procession and what roles are available.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Okazaki Shrine (3650 Okazaki, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture).
- Train and bus
It is about a 30-minute walk from Isehara Station and about a 40-minute walk from Tsurumaki-Onsen Station, both on the Odakyu Line.
It is about a 3-minute walk from the Okazaki Nokyo-mae bus stop, and about a 5-minute walk from the Yazaki-ohashi and Oomisumi Ground-mae bus stops.
For Okazaki Nokyo-mae and Yazaki-ohashi, take the Hir 92 or Hir 93 bus; for Oomisumi Ground-mae, take the Ise 03, Ise 18, or Ise 19 bus.
- By car
As nearby roads are congested during the festival, public transportation is recommended.
If you use a paid parking lot nearby, be sure to check the details in advance.
Source: ⛩岡崎神社｜神奈川県平塚市 - 八百万の神
Address 3650 Okazaki, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Dates and season
2026年の開催案内（掲載日程は終了しています）
In 2026, the 안내 indicates that the Yoimiya Festival will be held on October 8 and the main festival on October 9.
Purification prayers and dedication ceremonies are planned for the Yoimiya Festival, and rites and a mikoshi procession are planned for the main festival.
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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Hiratsuka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As some events take place outdoors during the festival, comfortable clothing is recommended.
It’s a good idea to bring rain gear in case of bad weather.
When watching the rites or parade, please observe quietly from a place that does not obstruct the shrine grounds or the procession.
Be aware that nearby roads may be congested during the festival.
Nearby attractions
三嶋神社
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
Sadori Shrine
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
平塚八幡宮
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
Origins and History of Okazaki Shrine Festival (Sannōsha)
The Okazaki Shrine Festival is recorded as one whose festival date has remained unchanged for a long time, even as festival dates in Hiratsuka have shifted.
Since the Meiji era, festival dates in various places have shifted due to the adoption of the solar calendar, changes in livelihoods, and an increase in salaried workers.
In contrast, the Okazaki Shrine festival on October 9 is cited as an example of a festival date that has not changed since the Meiji era.
Source: 例祭日
Official information
The Kanagawa Prefecture Shrine Agency’s shrine information provides details about Okazaki Shrine’s location, enshrined deities, and annual festival dates.
The main festival is listed as October 9 and the Yoimiya Festival as October 8.
For basic shrine information, refer to the Kanagawa Prefecture Shrine Agency’s page for Okazaki Shrine.
Source: 岡崎神社 - 神奈川県神社庁
Okazaki Shrine Festival (Sannōsha) at a Glance
The Okazaki Shrine Festival is an event where visitors can watch prayers before the deities and a community parade through the Yoimiya Festival and main festival.
In 2026, October 8 is the Yoimiya Festival and October 9 is the main festival. The program includes rites, a mikoshi procession, and a festival parade.
The venue is Okazaki Shrine in Okazaki, Hiratsuka City, accessible on foot from Isehara Station or the Okazaki Nokyo-mae bus stop.
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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