Name: Suibara Festival
Start: 2026-08-24
End: 2026-08-24
Location: Suibara Motomachi Shopping Street (joint performance of kagura and shishi: in front of the special stage beside the Suibara Magistrate’s Office; folk dance parade and The Toro Raimu: their respective routes)

A summer festival in Suibara, Agano City, featuring kagura dance, a folk dance parade, and an event where lanterns are clashed together.

About Suibara Festival

The Suibara Festival is a summer festival held every year in the Suibara district of Agano City, Niigata Prefecture.

The festival combines local performing arts and street events, including kagura dance, a folk dance parade, and The Toro Raimu, where lanterns are clashed together.

The events take place in places closely connected to Suibara’s history and daily life, such as in front of the Suibara Magistrate’s Office, along Honcho Street, and in the shopping district.

Source: 水原まつり - Wikipedia / 水原まつり｜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

Festival highlights

Highlights include a varied program that begins with kagura dance performances, followed by a joint performance of kagura and shishi, a folk dance parade, and The Toro Raimu.

The most striking scenes unfold during Toro Raimu, when people carrying large lanterns face off in the streets and clash them together.

The festival is distinctive for letting visitors enjoy traditional performing arts and street events all at once.

A festival that brings Suibara’s summer to life with kagura, folk dances, and the sounds of lanterns

What to expect

The festival program begins with kagura dance performances and a joint performance of kagura and shishi, then moves on to a folk song parade and The Toro Raimu.

The folk dance parade runs from the Habataki Shinkin Bank Agano Branch to the front of the Suibara Magistrate’s Office.

Toro Raimu takes place from in front of the former Maruoka Clinic to the front of the Suibara Magistrate’s Office, where visitors watch as large lanterns are clashed together.

Location and access

Venue and address

Suibara Motomachi Shopping Street, Agano City, Niigata Prefecture.

The joint performance of kagura and shishi takes place in front of the special stage beside the Suibara Magistrate’s Office; the folk dance parade runs from the Habataki Shinkin Bank Agano Branch to the front of the Suibara Magistrate’s Office; and The Toro Raimu takes place from in front of the former Maruoka Clinic to the front of the Suibara Magistrate’s Office.

Train and bus

A 5-minute drive from Suibara Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line.

By car

A 15-minute drive from the Yasuda IC or Niitsu IC on the Ban’etsu Expressway.

Parking

Regular cars can use the Agano City Hall parking lot.

Address Suibara Motomachi Shopping Street, Agano City, Niigata Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)

The festival was held on August 24.

The joint performance of kagura and shishi was scheduled for 7–8 p.m., the folk song parade for 7:30–10 p.m., and The Toro Raimu from 5:30 p.m. until 6:50 a.m. the following day.

Following an accident on August 24 that year, the Agano City Grand Fireworks Display planned for the next day was postponed, and the timing of the rescheduled event was announced as undecided.

Source: 【報道発表】水原まつり「ザ・灯籠来舞」での事故について／阿賀野市

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 / Agano City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

At the Tōrō Raimai on August 24, 2026, an accident in Chuocho, Agano City, resulted in a death and injuries.

The cause of the accident is reportedly under investigation, and the Agano City Grand Fireworks Festival, scheduled for the following day, has been postponed.

When watching the Tōrō Raimai, follow the venue’s guidance and instructions from security staff. Watch from a safe place that does not obstruct the event.

Nearby attractions

Festival-related sites include the Suibara Magistrate’s Office, the Agano City Suibara Furusato Agricultural History Museum, and Suibara Hachimangu Shrine.

All are listed as attractions around the Suibara Festival venues.

If you plan to visit as part of your festival outing, check each facility’s opening status and visitor information.

Origins and History of Suibara Festival

It is said that in Suibara, young people used to carry large lanterns in groups of 8–10 and clash them together during the festival.

Because the accompanying chant resembles the kiyari-bushi songs passed down in Fukagawa, Tokyo, it is thought to be a custom transmitted from the Edo period to the early Meiji period.

The Suibara Festival later took shape as an event to enliven Suibara Town, where the magistrate’s office once stood.

Official information

For inquiries, contact the Agano City Commerce and Tourism Division, the secretariat of the Suibara Festival Executive Committee.

The phone number is 0250-62-2510, and a link to the official Agano City website is also provided.

Agano City has issued a press release about the 2026 Toro Raimu accident and the postponement of the fireworks display.