An autumn festival where a mikoshi winds through the castle town, bringing Sakura’s history and community traditions to life
Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Autumn
- Location
- Former Sakura town area
- Area
- Chiba Prefecture・Sakura City(From Tokyo: approx. 40 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
This historic autumn folk event features the of Sakura Makata Shrine making its way through the former Sakura town area. It appears in records from the mid-Edo period and has been passed down to the present by local residents.
About Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession
The Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession is an autumn folk event in which the shrine’s mikoshi makes its way through the former Sakura town area.
Makata Shrine grew into a central shrine for the community around the time Doi Toshikatsu built Sakura Castle and developed the castle town.
The mikoshi procession is central to the former Sakura town’s festival traditions and has been passed down through generations by local residents.
In Heisei 27October 21, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Sakura City.
Festival highlights
A major highlight is seeing the mikoshi of Makata Shrine, designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Sakura City, make its way through the former Sakura town area.
The mikoshi procession is considered central to the former Sakura town’s festival traditions and has been passed down to the present despite its long history.
The mikoshi procession is recorded in “Kokon Sakura Masako,” a mid-Edo-period document, and one distinctive feature is that the mikoshi from that time has been passed down unchanged to the present.
Another valuable feature is that written records allow us to trace how this local folk event has been passed down and changed over time.
An autumn festival where a mikoshi winds through the castle town, bringing Sakura’s history and community traditions to life
What to expect
During the event, the mikoshi of Makata Shrine makes its way through the former Sakura town area.
As a central part of the former Sakura town’s festival traditions, it has been passed down through generations by local residents.
Records of the mikoshi procession also appear in “Kokon Sakura Masako,” written by Watanabe Zen’emon in the mid-Edo period, and written sources offer details about the event as it was held at the time.
This event lets you trace how the mikoshi and the local festival traditions have been passed down.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Former Sakura town area
Event venue 千葉県佐倉市 旧佐倉町内
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Autumn
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 Chiba Prefecture / Sakura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
DIC川村記念美術館
千葉県佐倉市にある私立美術館
国立歴史民俗博物館
千葉県佐倉市にある日本の歴史、民俗学、考古学について総合的に研究・展示する歴史博物館
麻賀多神社
千葉県佐倉市鏑木町にある神社
Origins and History of Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession
The Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession is also mentioned in “Kokon Sakura Masako,” written by Watanabe Zen’emon in the mid-Edo period.
Makata Shrine grew into a central shrine for the community around the time Doi Toshikatsu built Sakura Castle and developed the castle town.
The mikoshi procession is at the heart of the former Sakura town’s festival traditions and has been passed down through generations by local residents.
In Heisei 27October 21, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Sakura City.
Official information
Sakura City official website, “Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession” [Sakura City-designated Cultural Property]
Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession at a Glance
The Sakura Makata Shrine Mikoshi Procession is an autumn folk event in which the mikoshi of Makata Shrine makes its way through the former Sakura town area.
It has been passed down through generations by local residents as a central part of the former Sakura town’s festival traditions, and is also recorded in “Kokon Sakura Masako,” a mid-Edo-period work.
In Heisei 27October 21, it became an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Sakura City. Its distinctive features include the passing down of the mikoshi from that time and the way written records let us trace changes in local folk traditions.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
