Two boats aglow at Kaikura: the Tenno Festival with Gion hayashi music and fireworks
Tenno Festival (Shinshiro City)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Early August every year / Every year
- Location
- A river bend in the Toyokawa River known as “Kaikura”
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Shinshiro City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Tenno Festival in the Ichikuwada district of Shinshiro City is a summer festival that lights up the night with boats bearing lanterns, Gion music, and fireworks on the Toyokawa River at Kaikura.
About Tenno Festival (Shinshiro City)
The Tenno Festival is held every year in early August in the Ichikuwada district of Shinshiro City.
It is said to have originated when villagers, during a period marked by outbreaks of serious illness and repeated flooding of the Toyokawa River, brought an amulet from Tsushima Shrine to ward off misfortune and began holding an event modeled on the Tsushima Festival.
Boats, hayashi music, and fireworks unfold on the Toyokawa River at Kaikura.
Source: 天王祭：新城市
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the moment when 2 boats row out to a river bend in the Toyokawa River known as “Kaikura.”
A lantern bearing the character “天” is raised aboard the boat, while the sound of Gion hayashi music carries across the water.
The program also includes the dedication of fireworks, aerial fireworks, and silver waterfalls, lighting up the riverside at night.
Two boats aglow at Kaikura: the Tenno Festival with Gion hayashi music and fireworks
What to expect
The events center on a river bend in the Toyokawa River known as Kaikura.
As Gion hayashi music plays, 2 boats bearing the character “天” in lanterns row out onto the river.
This is followed by the dedication of tezutsu fireworks, aerial fireworks, and silver waterfalls, bringing the nighttime festivities to a close.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival takes place in the Ichikuwada district, centered on a river bend in the Toyokawa River known as Kaikura.
The location is the Ichikuwada district of Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture.
Address Ichikuwada district, Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Early August every year
- Frequency
Every 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 Aichi Prefecture / Shinshiro City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
長篠城
愛知県新城市にあった城
写真：First version: Aboshi at Japanese Wikipedia Second version: Mocchy at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·Origins and History of Tenno Festival (Shinshiro City)
The Tenno Festival is said to have begun against a backdrop of repeated outbreaks of serious illness and flooding of the Toyokawa River.
It originated when villagers brought an amulet from Tsushima Shrine to ward off misfortune and held an event modeled on the Tsushima Festival.
The event has continued as a summer festival in the Ichikuwada district, combining boats, hayashi music, and fireworks.
Official information
新城市公式サイトの「天王祭：新城市」で、祭りの概要と見どころが案内されています。
Shinshiro City’s History and Culture Division, Board of Education, is listed as the contact.
Tenno Festival (Shinshiro City) at a Glance
The Tenno Festival is a summer festival held every year in early August in the Ichikuwada district of Shinshiro City, with its origins in warding off misfortune.
At the river bend known as Kaikura, 2 boats bearing the character “天” in lanterns row out to the sound of Gion hayashi music.
Enjoy events by the water and in the night sky, from tezutsu fireworks and aerial fireworks to silver waterfalls.
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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