A festival where kiyari songs and 5 floats race through the town of Senami
Senami Taisai
The 2026 edition of Senami Taisai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/03 〜 2026/09/04Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, from September 3 to September 4 / Every year
- Location
- Senami district, around Nishinomiya Shrine
- Area
- Niigata Prefecture・Murakami City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h 10 min · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The and 5 oshagiri floats make their way through Senami, while kiyari songs and bells and drums mark key moments in the festival. This is the annual grand festival of Nishinomiya Shrine, which carries on the tradition of Kihidaijin's arrival by sea.
About Senami Taisai
Senami Taisai is the annual grand festival held at Nishinomiya Shrine in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
1 mikoshi and 5 floats parade through Senami, combining the ritual to welcome the enshrined deity with the neighborhood festivities.
The festival is associated with a tradition that Kihidaijin landed in Senami by sea from Tsuruga, and conveys the history and religious beliefs of Senami, a fishing town.
The eve festival and main festival are held every September.
Source: 瀬波大祭｜新潟のイベント｜【公式】新潟県のおすすめ観光・旅行情報！にいがた観光ナビ / 瀬波大祭の由来と見どころ - 村上市公式ウェブサイト
Festival highlights
The highlight is the procession, with 5 oshagiri floats making their way through town to the sound of bells, drums, and kiyari songs.
At the slope in Yokomachi, the floats race uphill after a kiyari song; the same scene unfolds on the slope in Hamamachi at night.
Each float has different decorations and rear panels, so you can compare the distinctive features of each neighborhood, including the Kihimaru float from Hamamachi, Ebisu from Nakamachi, and the sacred sake flasks from Nittamachi.
Source: 瀬波大祭 - Wikipedia
A festival where kiyari songs and 5 floats race through the town of Senami
What to expect
The eve festival begins in the afternoon, when oshagiri floats are pulled through each neighborhood.
The main festival starts with the lead drums as a signal. After the floats gather in front of Nishinomiya Shrine, a ritual is held to transfer the spirit of the deity to the mikoshi, and then the procession sets off with the mikoshi and 5 floats.
The floats play festival music as the pullers sing songs and kiyari songs while making their way through town until night.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Senami district, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
The procession goes through Senami, passing in front of Nishinomiya Shrine and by slopes such as the one in Hamamachi.
- Train and bus
It is a 20-minute walk from Murakami Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line.
- By car
It is a 10-minute drive from the Murakami-Senami Onsen IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway.
- Parking
The temporary parking lot at Matsubaracho 2-chome is near 10-28 Matsubaracho 2-chome, Murakami City, and is available from noon on September 3 until 10:30 p.m. on September 4.
The temporary parking lot at Senami Kamimachi is at 4-1 Senami Kamimachi, Murakami City, and is available from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on September 4.
Source: 令和8年度瀬波大祭臨時露店市場の開設について - 村上市公式ウェブサイト
Address Senami district, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
For 2026, the eve festival is listed for September 3 (Thursday) and the main festival for September 4 (Friday).
During the eve festival, floats make their way through each neighborhood in the afternoon. The main festival proceeds from the morning lead drums to the rituals and then the procession featuring the mikoshi and 5 floats.
At night, kiyari songs are sung and the floats race uphill.
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 Niigata Prefecture / Murakami City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the main festival, floats parade through the neighborhoods and race energetically up slopes such as the one in Hamamachi.
When watching the procession, follow instructions from staff and local signs, and avoid obstructing the floats along the route and around the slopes.
On September 4, pedestrian-only traffic restrictions are scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon in the area designated for the temporary street market.
Nearby attractions
Around Senami, where the festival is held, you’ll find Senami Onsen, Senami Onsen Funtō Park, and Senami Onsen Beach.
In Murakami City, nearby attractions also include the Iyoboya Kaikan, which introduces the culture of salmon, and Jōnenji Temple, which is connected to Murakami’s history.
If you plan to visit them along with the festival, please check each facility’s operating status and visitor information in advance.
イヨボヤ会館
新潟県村上市の博物館
Origins and History of Senami Taisai
Nishinomiya Shrine is listed in the Engishiki, compiled in 927, and is said to have a history of more than 1,200 years.
Senami Taisai is said to be a festival celebrating the arrival of the deity Kihidaijin from Echizen by boat, as told in local tradition, with a procession of the mikoshi and floats.
It is unclear when the floats first began to be pulled, but an entry dated 1719 in Kamimachi's equipment chest suggests a long-standing float culture.
Official information
The dates, venue, and access information for the 2026 festival are listed on Niigata Prefecture's official tourism website.
You can find information about the festival's origins and procession highlights on the Murakami City official website.
The Murakami City Tourism Association's phone number is also listed for inquiries.
Senami Taisai at a Glance
Senami Taisai is a traditional annual grand festival in Murakami City, where the mikoshi and 5 oshagiri floats make their way through Senami.
A major highlight is the sight of the floats racing uphill to the sound of kiyari songs and bells and drums, and each neighborhood's floats have distinctive decorations.
For 2026, an eve festival on September 3 and a main festival on September 4 are listed. You can reach the area around the venue from Murakami Station or the Murakami-Senami Onsen IC.
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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