A traditional summer festival that fills Emukae with lantern light and water splashing
Sendoro Festival
The 2026 edition of Sendoro Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/23 〜 2026/08/24Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 23 and 24 / Every year
- Location
- Around the Emukae Branch Office of Sasebo City Hall (the Higashi-Emukae district)
- Area
- Nagasaki Prefecture・Sasebo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 20 min · flight time only)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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Sendoro Festival, passed down through generations in Emukae, Sasebo City, is a traditional summer event that brightens the season with lantern light, the Mizukake Jizo Festival, and fireworks.
About Sendoro Festival
The Sendoro Festival is a summer festival held every year on August 23 and 24 in Emukae, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
With a history of around 500 years, the festival has been passed down throughout Emukae, centering on lantern displays and the Mizukake Jizo Festival.
The lantern tower and around 10,000 lanterns brighten the area, and the festival also helps pass on the Mizukake Jizo Festival, designated an intangible folk cultural property by the city, to future generations.
Source: 令和8年度「江迎千灯籠まつり」｜佐世保市
Festival highlights
Highlights include the approximately 25-meter-tall Sendoro Tower, decorated with around 3,500 lanterns, and around 10,000 lanterns that envelop the town from dusk.
During the Mizukake Jizo Festival, children carry a carved wooden Jizo statue to the river and parade through town with a .
Along with the spectacular event in which water is thrown from the roadside, fireworks on both evenings are part of the festival scenery.
Source: 江迎千灯籠まつり | イベント | 【公式】佐世保･小値賀 観光/旅行サイト 海風の国観光圏 / 千灯籠まつり - Wikipedia
A traditional summer festival that fills Emukae with lantern light and water splashing
What to expect
At the festival, the lantern tower and lanterns around town are lit from dusk, illuminating the streets of Emukae.
During the Mizukake Jizo Festival, a carved wooden Jizo statue is carried to the Kareigawa River and sprinkled with water, then placed on a mikoshi and paraded through town.
According to the 2026 event information, fireworks were scheduled for both August 23 and 24, from 9:05 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around the Emukae Branch Office of Sasebo City Hall (the Higashi-Emukae district).
The lantern tower is at the festival plaza in Emukae Chuo Park, and the fireworks are along the Emukae River.
- Train and bus
About a 3-minute walk from Emukae-Shikamachi Station on the Matsuura Railway.
Take a bus bound for Hirado from in front of Sasebo Station and get off at Emukae Bus Center; the venue is just a short walk away.
- By car
About 20 minutes from Saza IC on the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway.
It takes about 50 minutes to drive from Sasebo City to Emukae via National Route 204.
- Parking
8 locations near the venue, with a total of 1,010 spaces, are listed.
Some parking is paid, and spaces are limited, so visitors are encouraged to use public transport whenever possible.
Source: 江迎千灯籠まつりの開催情報【2026年】 - ウェザーニュース
Address 320 Nagasaka, Emukae-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture (Emukae Chuo Park Festival Plaza)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was announced for August 23 (Sunday) and 24 (Monday) in 2026.
Fireworks were scheduled from 9:05 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on both days, and the lantern tower was lit from August 22 through the 24th.
The main festival is held on August 23 and 24 in a typical year, with street lanterns lit from dusk.
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 Nagasaki Prefecture / Sasebo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Parking near the venue gets crowded during the festival, and spaces are limited.
If you come by car, be aware that traffic congestion may occur near the venue and that municipal roads are scheduled to be closed and made pedestrian-only.
Temporary services are also announced after the fireworks, so it is a good idea to check your return transport options and times in advance.
Nearby attractions
Nearby sightseeing spots include Jufukuji Temple, Senryu Sake Brewery, Emukae Honjin Yamashita Family Storehouse, Emukae Church, and Shikamachi Onsen Yasuragi-kan.
Jufukuji Temple, associated with the festival’s Mizukake Jizo Festival, is also where the carved wooden Jizo statue is carried.
Check each facility’s information for its operating status and conditions of use.
ハウステンボス
長崎県佐世保市にあるテーマパーク
ハウステンボス美術館
長崎県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
九十九島パールシーリゾート
長崎県佐世保市にある水族館・遊覧船などの複合施設
佐世保市博物館島瀬美術センター
長崎県佐世保市にある美術館
海上自衛隊佐世保史料館
長崎県佐世保市にある史料館
Origins and History of Sendoro Festival
The Sendoro Festival is said to have originated in the Mizukake Jizo Festival, which dates back to the late Sengoku period.
The custom of decorating the eaves of homes with lanterns and dedicating lanterns to temples became popular, eventually developing into the present-day festival, with lanterns displayed throughout Emukae.
In 1989, a 22-meter-tall lantern tower was built and became a symbol of the festival.
Official information
You can find the 2026 event information on the Sasebo City official website under “Reiwa 8th Year ‘Emukae Sendoro Festival.’”
It lists the venue, event dates, fireworks times, parking, and contact details for the organizing committee.
Sendoro Festival at a Glance
The Sendoro Festival is a traditional summer festival that lights up Emukae with lanterns and features the Mizukake Jizo Festival and fireworks.
The lantern tower and the lights throughout town are major highlights, set against a history of around 500 years.
The 2026 event was announced for August 23 and 24, with visitors encouraged to travel to the venue area by public transport.
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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