A summer festival in Kawanoe, where the pride of the paper town is expressed through dance and calligraphy
Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival
The 2026 edition of Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/25 〜 2026/07/26Ended
- Season / frequency
- July, for 2 days starting on the last Saturday
- Location
- Venues centered around Kawanoe Nigiwai Plaza (Sakaemachi Plaza and the Paper Town Museum)
- Area
- Ehime Prefecture・Shikokuchuo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 25 min–1 h 45 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival held in gratitude for the paper industry, bringing Kawanoe to life with Paper Odori, calligraphy performances, a market, and more.
About Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival
The Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival is a summer festival held in gratitude for the paper industry in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture.
Events include Paper Odori, calligraphy performances, food events, street performances, a flea market, and paper product sales.
The festival unfolds throughout Kawanoe, bringing together the paper industry and lively local festivities.
Source: 四国中央紙まつり - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
One of the highlights is the Calligraphy Performance Koshien, where participants use large brushes to write characters to music.
During Paper Odori, groups from local businesses and neighborhood associations perform dances incorporating the motions of making paper, to the rhythm of bells and drums.
There are also stage events, a market, and paper product sales, offering a chance to enjoy paper culture and local festivities together.
Source: 【2026】第48回四国中央紙まつり｜愛媛のイベントを探す｜愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】
A summer festival in Kawanoe, where the pride of the paper town is expressed through dance and calligraphy
What to expect
At the venue, you can enjoy stage events and a market while browsing paper products for sale.
During Paper Odori, dancers perform movements inspired by the process of making paper to the sound of bells and drums.
In the calligraphy performances, high school students write with large brushes to music, competing in expressiveness and the beauty of their characters.
How to take part
See the link below for details on how to take part.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Held at venues including Sakaemachi Plaza and the Paper Town Museum, centered around Kawanoe Nigiwai Plaza.
The location is Kawanoecho, Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture.
- Train and bus
It is a 3-minute walk from JR Kawanoe Station to Sakaemachi Plaza and a 10-minute walk to the Paper Town Museum.
Shuttle buses run from JR Kawanoe Station and the express bus stop at the Mishima-Kawanoe Interchange on the Matsuyama Expressway.
- By car
It takes 15 minutes to drive from the Mishima-Kawanoe Interchange to Sakaemachi Plaza and 10 minutes to the Paper Town Museum.
- Parking
Parking information is provided for locations including the Kawanoe Elementary School grounds, various banks, the temporary parking lot at the lawn plaza, and the Shiroyamashita parking lot.
Source: 駐車場 案内図 - 四国中央紙まつり ページへようこそ！
Address Kawanoecho, Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival was held from July 25 (Saturday) through July 26 (Sunday).
A program featuring stage events, a market, paper product sales, Paper Odori, and more, centered around Kawanoe Nigiwai Plaza.
Source: 四国中央紙まつり - 四国中央紙まつり ページへようこそ！
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 Ehime Prefecture / Shikokuchuo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival
The festival began after a 1977 public survey conducted by the Kawanoe Junior Chamber found broad support for a “new local festival.”
The first Kawanoe Paper Carnival was held the following year, in 1978, and was renamed the Kawanoe Paper Festival in 1980.
It took its current name in 2004, following the municipal merger, and the Calligraphy Performance Koshien began in 2008.
Official information
Official information is available on the Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival official website.
You can check the dates for the 48th event in 2026, venue information, parking information, and various application forms.
Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival at a Glance
The Shikoku Chuo Paper Festival is a summer festival held in gratitude for the paper industry, featuring Paper Odori, calligraphy performances, a market, and paper product sales.
In 2026, it was held from July 25 through the 26th, centered around Kawanoe Nigiwai Plaza.
Some venues are within walking distance of JR Kawanoe Station, and information is provided for several parking areas.
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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