Omama Gion Festival

Festival highlights

Highlights include a shinji in which a sacred horse races through the town, and 7 dashi proceeding while playing Gion hayashi.

Gion hayashi has a distinctive Jōshū style while also retaining influences from Edo hayashi.

Events such as the mikoshi togyo, children’s dance, and Yagibushi add to the festival’s color, and on the final day, a rei-mairi is held with the dashi of the host neighborhood leading the way.

A Gion festival bringing color to Omama for 3 days with dashi hayashi and mikoshi

What to expect

For 2026, the schedule listed a night shrine festival, a fire department music corps parade, various parades, and a hayashi performance competition on August 1.

On the 2nd, events are scheduled to include a sacred horse, a children’s dance, the main festival mikoshi togyo, and Yagibushi.

On the 3rd, events include a children’s mikoshi parade, a mikoshi parade by businesses and organizations, a formal closing ceremony, and a dashi procession for the rei-mairi.

Start times may change or events may be canceled due to weather and other factors.

How to take part

For 2026, applications are open to junior high school students and older to pull the dashi, and to preschool-age children accompanied by a parent or guardian for the mikoshi togyo child performer role.

Participation is free for both, and the application deadline is July 10.

For the 2026 dashi-pulling event, applications are accepted through the LoGo form, by email, or by phone.

You must provide your preferred participation date, name, age, contact details, and other information.

For the child performer role, apply by email or phone with the names, contact details, and ages of the parent or guardian and child.

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

Honcho-dori, Omama Town 1–7-chome / Omama, Omama Town, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture

Parking

Yes

Address Omama, Omama Town, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture

Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

It was listed as scheduled to run from August 1, 2026 (Saturday) through the 3rd (Monday).

On the 1st, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; on the 2nd, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and on the 3rd, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The start times and durations of events are estimates and may change or be canceled due to weather and other factors.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

Those participating in the 2026 dashi-pulling event should wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring water.

Participants will receive a boxed lunch and an Omama Gion Festival T-shirt.

Event times may change or events may be canceled due to weather and other factors.

Nearby attractions

Places introduced near the festival venue include the Noguchi Family Residence, Jionji Temple, Kodaira no Sato, and Oka Naozaburo Shoten.

The Noguchi Family Residence is a cultural heritage site, Jionji Temple is open to visitors year-round, and Kodaira no Sato is featured as a summer attraction.

Information about Nipponichi Shoyu and soy sauce soft-serve ice cream is available from Oka Naozaburo Shoten.

Museums and art museumsMidori City

みどり市立富弘美術館

群馬県みどり市にある美術館

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

Photo and data sources×

写真：photo: Qurren ( talk ) Taken with Canon IXY 430F (Digital IXUS 245 HS) / CC BY-SA 3.0

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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 Omama Gion Festival

The Omama Gion Festival is said to have begun in Kan’ei 6 (1629), and has a tradition spanning more than 380 years.

In Heisei 16 May 18, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Midori City.

The festival’s Gion hayashi features a distinctive Jōshū style influenced by Edo hayashi, conveying a local festival culture that incorporated the advanced culture of Edo.

Official information

Details of the 2026 event schedule and participant recruitment are available in information from Midori City.

Event details and venue information are also posted in the events section of the official Midori City tourism website.

Omama Gion Festival at a Glance

The Omama Gion Festival is a traditional event in Omama Town that has continued since 1629. Its features include dashi playing Gion hayashi, a sacred horse, a mikoshi togyo, and a rei-mairi.

For 2026, it was listed as scheduled to take place from August 1 through the 3rd, mainly along Honcho-dori in Omama Town 1–7-chome.

You can participate as a dashi puller or child performer after checking the eligibility requirements and application deadline.