A festival of sea and land, with mikoshi and a gozabune sailing around Matsushima Bay
Shiogama Minato Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Julyheld around the 3rd Sunday (Marine Day) / Once a year
- Area
- Miyagi Prefecture・Shiogama City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Shiogama Minato Festival is a festival in Shiogama City where the of Shiwahiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine are enshrined aboard a gozabune that sails around Matsushima Bay alongside accompanying boats.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 七厩拓 File:Hōō Maru 2022-10-31.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 国土交通省 東北地方整備局 塩釜港湾・空港整備事務所 File:Shiogama Minato Festival seen from Marine Gate Shiogama 2015-07-20.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 https://www.pa.thr.mlit.go.jp/shiogama/topics/h27/minato.htmlDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: allegro Takahi File:Fireworks on the eve of the Shiogama Minato Festival.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 Flickr: P7190501Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Shiogama Minato Festival
Shiogama Minato Festival is a major festival linking the port and shrines of Shiogama City.
The mikoshi of Shiwahiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine are enshrined aboard a gozabune, which then makes a procession by sea.
It is a festival of sea and land, bringing together the history of this port town and devotion to its shrines.
Source: 塩竈の歳時記 - 塩竈市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the procession by sea, as a gozabune carrying 2 mikoshi sails around Matsushima Bay alongside accompanying boats.
On land, scenes include the mikoshi proceeding up the shrine’s steep Omote-zaka approach and parades bringing color to the streets.
Along with the fireworks display on the eve of the festival, you can enjoy festivities that make the most of the harbor scenery.
Source: 第78回塩竈みなと祭 本祭 - イベントカレンダー | 塩竈観光物産協会
A festival of sea and land, with mikoshi and a gozabune sailing around Matsushima Bay
What to expect
During the festival, the mikoshi of the two shrines travel through the city, are enshrined aboard a gozabune, and set out on a procession by sea.
At sea, a gozabune accompanied by numerous boats sails around Matsushima Bay, while parades and dancing take place on land.
At the end, the mikoshi return to the shrine, marking their return procession.
Location and access
- Address
Shiogama City
Host municipality 宮城県塩竈市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
- Season
Julyheld around the 3rd Sunday (Marine Day)
- Frequency
Once a year
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 Miyagi Prefecture / Shiogama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The mikoshi procession and parade take place at several locations around the city, so you’ll need to plan your route around the events you want to see.
For events held around the port, including the eve-of-festival celebrations, be aware of crowds and traffic restrictions.
When visiting, please follow local guidance, including taking your rubbish home with you.
Source: 第79回塩竈みなと祭 - 塩竈市ホームページ
Nearby attractions
鹽竈神社
宮城県塩竈市にある神社
写真：nnh / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Shiogama Minato Festival
The Shiogama Minato Festival began in 1948, shortly after the end of the war, with hopes of reviving industry in the port town of Shiogama and restoring the energy of its residents.
In 1963, the festival moved to summer, and the following year, the mikoshi of Shiwahiko Jinja and an ozafune joined the maritime procession.
Since 2005, the festival has been held on Marine Day, developing into its present form.
Official information
The official Shiogama City page reports on the 79th Shiogama Minato Festival and announces plans for the next, 80th festival.
For the latest information on the festival edition and dates, see the “Minato Festival” section of the Shiogama City website.
Shiogama Minato Festival at a Glance
Shiogama Minato Festival is a festival in Shiogama City that brings together the shrines’ mikoshi and gozabune, the procession by sea across Matsushima Bay, and a parade through the city.
It began in 1948 and has been held around Marine Day.
The 80th festival is scheduled for 2027, and the unveiling of a newly built gozabune has also been announced.
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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