Ooyodo’s summer festival, brought to life by dashi, a sea procession, and local fireworks
Ooyodo Gion Festival
The 2026 edition of Ooyodo Gion Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/24 〜 2026/07/25Ended
- Season / frequency
- Around the latter half of July / Every year
- Location
- Meiwa Town’s Ooyodo district and the area around Ooyodo Fishing Port
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Meiwa Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free admission to view the festival. No reserved seating.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A Gion festival in Ooyodo, Meiwa-cho, where from three districts parade through their areas and a sea procession is held in Miyakko. Locally distinctive set-piece fireworks are also presented at night.
About Ooyodo Gion Festival
The Ooyodo Gion Festival is a Gion festival passed down in the Higashi-ku, Miyakko, and Yam-Ooyodo districts of Ooyodo, Meiwa-cho, Mie Prefecture.
The festival venerates Susanoo-no-Mikoto and offers prayers for protection from epidemics, abundant harvests, and the development of agriculture and fishing.
Each district pulls a dashi, while Miyakko also holds a procession and a sea procession.
A summer festival that represents the region, where the dashi procession coincides with fireworks.
Source: 大淀ぎおん祭と花火大会／明和町ホームページ - 多気郡
Festival highlights
Highlights include dashi winding through narrow lanes and moments when participants work together to turn the dashi.
In Miyakko, the dashi are loaded onto 2 boats for a sea procession around Ooyodo Port.
At night, in addition to launched fireworks, locally distinctive set-piece fireworks known as “tsunabi” are also presented.
Notice how the dashi decorations and procession styles vary from district to district.
Source: 大淀祇園祭 - Wikipedia
Ooyodo’s summer festival, brought to life by dashi, a sea procession, and local fireworks
What to expect
During the festival, dashi from each district parade through their respective areas, with musicians aboard playing Gion-bayashi festival music.
In Miyakko, following the mikoshi procession, the dashi head to Ooyodo Fishing Port and are loaded onto boats for a sea procession.
Children known as Otohime join the procession in Yam-Ooyodo.
Fireworks are held at night, so visitors can enjoy both the festival and the area’s distinctive fireworks in succession.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the dashi procession, the sea procession, and the fireworks display.
The festival is mainly run by local community members, including district youth groups, children, and former members of the youth groups.
Local children take part in the children’s mikoshi and procession roles, but information is not available on whether general visitors can take on festival roles or help pull the dashi.
Source: 明和町観光協会 · Ooyodo Gion Festival
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ooyodo, Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun.
The fireworks display takes place around Ooyodo Fishing Port.
In 2026, a shuttle bus is scheduled to run from in front of the JA Taki-gun Main Office to the venue, departing every 15 minutes from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Return service is scheduled to run from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- By car
The venue is about 30 minutes north of the Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway.
During the festival, roads in Ooyodo are closed to traffic, while Prefectural Route 60 remains open.
- Parking
Meiwa Town’s visitor information says there is no parking near the venue. The temporary parking lot is in front of the JA Taki-gun Main Office (1831-21 Saiku, Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun, Mie Prefecture).
Shuttle bus service ends when capacity is reached.
Source: 大淀祇園祭と花火大会（多気郡明和町）の打ち上げ数・日程など - 花火大会2026 - ウォーカープラス
Address Ooyodo, Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun, Mie Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event information listed the Higashi Ward yoimiya for July 24 (Friday), and Yama-Oyodo and Misegu for July 25 (Saturday) in 2026.
The fireworks display was also scheduled for July 25 (Saturday), with a planned start time of 7:20 p.m.
In Misegu, the dashi are scheduled to depart at 1 p.m., followed by the maritime togyo at 5 p.m.
In case of rain, the event will be postponed until the following day.
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 Mie Prefecture / Meiwa Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The area within Oyodo will be closed to traffic while the dashi are on the move. If you are coming by car, please do not drive near the festival venue; use the designated temporary parking lots.
The shuttle bus from in front of the JA Taki-gun main office will stop running once it reaches capacity.
The fireworks start time may change, and in case of rain, the event will be postponed until the following day.
Around the narrow lanes and port, please choose a viewing spot that does not obstruct the parade or maritime togyo.
Nearby attractions
Origins and History of Ooyodo Gion Festival
The Ooyodo Gion Festival is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period as a folk religious practice to ward off epidemics and pray for the safety of parishioners and the development of agriculture and fishing.
The festival follows traditions associated with Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto and Tsushima Shrine in Aichi, and venerates Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
It was once held on day 14 of lunar month 6 and the 15th; today, each of the three districts pulls its own dashi.
Miyakko’s sea procession and the fireworks are also traditions that have been passed down in the community for many years.
Official information
Meiwa Town’s website has information titled “Ooyodo Gion Festival and Fireworks Display,” where you can check the 2026 dates, venue, temporary parking, shuttle bus, and road closures.
It also includes a link to the festival’s official website.
For inquiries, contact the Meiwa Town Tourism Association.
Ooyodo Gion Festival at a Glance
The Ooyodo Gion Festival is a Gion festival dating back to the mid-Edo period, in which the three districts of Ooyodo, Meiwa-cho, each pull their own dashi.
Dashi winding through narrow lanes, Miyakko’s sea procession, children’s mikoshi, and Gion-bayashi festival music bring the festival to life.
In 2026, the festival will be held on July 24 and the 25th, with a fireworks display also scheduled for the evening of the 25th.
When visiting, check the information on road closures, parking, and the shuttle bus.
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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