A festival where giant shishi lions and dashi floats parade through the historic streets of Sakata
Sakata Festival
The 2026 edition of Sakata Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/19 〜 2026/05/21Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, from May 19 through the 21st / Every year
- Location
- Central Sakata City, around Hie Shrine
- Area
- Yamagata Prefecture・Sakata 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
- Participation fee
- Free admission (some paid viewing areas available)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional festival where giant shishi lion heads and floats make their way through central Sakata, bringing together Hie Shrine’s annual grand festival and the bustle of the town.
About Sakata Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Inook2011 File:酒田祭.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Inook2011 File:Mt Chokai and Sakata festival.JPG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 自ら撮影Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Sakata Matsuri is a festival held in central Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, originating as the annual grand festival of Hie Shrine.
It is cherished as an event where dashi floats and giant shishi lions make their way through the city, while carrying on religious traditions.
Following the recovery from the Sakata Fire, it also came to be called “Sakata Matsuri” from 1979.
On festival days, the Sanno procession and fill the town, and the event continues as a tradition closely tied to local life.
Source: 人生を変えた酒田まつり。縁もゆかりもなかった土地で、これからも祭りを続けていけるように。｜酒田市公式note / 酒田祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
A highlight is the dashi procession, with giant shishi lion heads and floats parading through the city center.
The sight of tall, upright yamaboko floats moving through the streets is presented as one of the scenes that symbolize Sakata Matsuri.
The main festival also features the Sakata Historical Procession and an oiran parade, offering a chance to enjoy processions that evoke the past.
A distinctive feature is that you can experience both the solemn atmosphere of Hie Shrine’s annual grand festival and the lively streets lined with yatai.
A festival where giant shishi lions and dashi floats parade through the historic streets of Sakata
What to expect
The festival takes place over 3 days: the eve festival, main festival, and closing festival.
The main festival features processions through the city, including and sacred objects, dashi floats, a historical procession, and an oiran parade.
Watch giant shishi lions and dashi floats make their way along the route, and enjoy the festival atmosphere as you walk down streets lined with yatai.
The closing festival includes religious ceremonies in each neighborhood and brings the festival to a close.
How to take part
The festival is shown being enjoyed in many different ways—not only by those who support it, but also by people carrying mikoshi, pulling dashi, shopping at stalls, and watching the performances.
However, the information provided does not make clear whether general visitors can take part in the procession or religious rites as participants.
You can enjoy the city-centre procession and stalls as a spectator.
If you wish to take part as a festival participant, you will need to check whether recruitment is open and what the participation requirements are.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Central Sakata City, around Hie Shrine.
Shimohie Shrine is located at 1-7-32 Hiyoshicho, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture.
- Train and bus
The venue is about a 15-minute walk from Sakata Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, or a short walk from the Nakamachi bus stop, according to the listing.
- By car
About 10 minutes from Sakata Chuo IC on the Yamagata Expressway, or about 15 minutes from Sakata IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway.
- Parking
There is no temporary parking lot dedicated to Sakata Matsuri; visitors are directed to use nearby municipal or privately operated parking lots.
The city hall parking lot is unavailable.
Address 1-7-32 Hiyoshicho, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture (Shimohie Shrine)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
For 2026, the event is scheduled to take place over 3 days from May 19 (Tuesday) through the 21st (Thursday).
The 19th is the eve festival, the 20th is the main festival, and the 21st is the closing festival. The main festival features a dashi procession and other events.
It is held annually from May 19 through the 21st, and the festival takes place during these dates regardless of the days of the week.
Source: イベント｜酒田さんぽ - 山形県酒田市の観光・旅行情報
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 Yamagata Prefecture / Sakata City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The main festival features both a dashi procession and a parade of giant shishi lions, so crowds are expected along the route.
If you want to watch the procession, view it from a place that does not obstruct traffic, and follow local traffic restrictions and staff directions.
In case of rain, the event and procession may change depending on the weather that day and the organizers’ decisions.
If you are driving, there is no dedicated temporary parking lot, so it is a good idea to plan where to park in advance.
Nearby attractions
Places where you can explore Sakata’s history and its port-town heritage are introduced near the festival venue.
On the Uramatsuri day, an exhibition is scheduled at the former Abumiya, the residence of one of Sakata’s leading merchant families.
Along with the festival procession and stalls, visiting historic buildings in the city centre can give you a sense of Sakata’s background.
Please check each facility’s opening days and hours before your visit.
土門拳記念館
山形県酒田市にある写真美術館
写真：contri from Yonezawa-Shi, Yamagata, Japan / CC BY-SA 2.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
城輪柵
山形県酒田市にあった古代城柵
写真：Mukasora ( talk ) / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
本間美術館
日本の山形県に所在する美術館
松山文化伝承館
山形県酒田市にある博物館
写真：Ebiebi2 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
相馬樓
山形県酒田市にある観光施設
写真：Yauchi / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
酒田市立資料館
山形県酒田市にある資料館
写真：Ebiebi2 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
酒田市美術館
山形県酒田市にある美術館
写真：ToshiJapon / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Sakata Festival
Sakata Matsuri originated as the Sanno Festival, the annual grand festival of Hie Shrine, formerly known as the Upper and Lower Sanno Shrines. It is said to have begun in 1609.
The festival, which has continued since the Edo period, was once called the Sanno Festival. Until the end of the Meiji period, when power lines were installed, tall dashi floats paraded through the streets.
Following the 1976 Sakata Fire, an event commemorating the city’s recovery became the occasion for the festival to also be called “Sakata Matsuri” from 1979.
Both the festival’s religious traditions and its role as a gathering for residents are carried on today.
Official information
Information on dates and venues is available on Sakata City’s tourism website, “Sakata Sanpo.”
The listing describes Sakata Matsuri as an event held every year for 3 days, from May 19 through the 21st.
For festival details and any changes on the day, check the latest information available during the festival period.
Sakata Festival at a Glance
Sakata Matsuri is a traditional festival in Sakata City, carried on for more than 400 years since its origins in Hie Shrine’s annual grand festival.
For 2026, the event is scheduled to take place over 3 days from May 19 through the 21st, with an eve festival, main festival, and closing festival.
Giant shishi lion heads, dashi floats, and historical processions bring the city streets to life, letting you experience the religious ceremonies and the town’s festive bustle at once.
Crowds are expected around the venue, so it is a good idea to plan your visit, including considering public transportation.
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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