Whale ships parade through Tomida: a festival reenacting whale hunting with songs and taiko
Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event
The 2026 edition of Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/26 〜 2026/09/27Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, on the Saturday and Sunday following September 23 / Every year
- Location
- Tode Shrine and the surrounding neighborhoods
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Yokkaichi City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This traditional event in the Tomida district of Yokkaichi City features 4 groups performing a whale hunt with whale ships. Through the machineri parade and honneri at Tode Shrine, visitors can experience the songs, , and offering rituals passed down in the community.
About Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event
The Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event is a land-based festival reenacting whale hunting, passed down in the Tomida district of Yokkaichi City.
The 4 groups—Kitajima-gumi, Nakajima-gumi, Minamijima-gumi, and Furukawacho—each bring out a whale ship lavishly decorated with ornate details.
Through a performance in which the whale is pursued, fights back, and is finally harpooned, the event conveys the hope for a prosperous life in the fishing village.
It is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the honneri held in the grounds of Tode Shrine.
The same sequence is performed repeatedly: a whale is spotted and pursued, then turns to fight back when cornered as the harpoon thrower hurls a harpoon.
The 4 whale ships are decorated with carvings and banners, and tense exchanges unfold during offerings at the gate and at the main and auxiliary shrines.
Enjoy a story-filled event, from the songs and taiko to the final circle dance.
Source: 【 鳥出神社鯨船行事】鯨船行事次第 / 【四日市の文化財】令和8年度御池保全ボランティア募集
Whale ships parade through Tomida: a festival reenacting whale hunting with songs and taiko
What to expect
Preparations for the event begin around the latter half of July, when children and taiko drummers practice the movements and music.
On the first day, after the Chin-ka-sai fire-prevention ceremony, each group’s whale ship parades through its neighborhood in the machineri, performing the whale hunt in front of homes that have made donations or are playing a role in the event.
On the second day, the ships parade to Tode Shrine and perform the whale hunt as an offering at the main shrine and auxiliary shrines.
The event concludes with a shrine visit accompanied by songs, taiko, and dancing.
Source: 【 鳥出神社鯨船行事】鯨船行事について
How to take part
The roles aboard the whaling boat include the harpooner, hull carriers, oar carriers, rowers, taiko drummers, and people wearing the whale costume, with each group taking responsibility for its roles.
Some roles, such as harpooner and rower, are performed by children, but no information is provided on whether general visitors may join the performance.
Those who wish to watch can observe the procession around town or the main procession in the .
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tode Shrine and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Tode Shrine is at 2-16-4 Tomida, Yokkaichi City.
- Train and bus
It is a 7-minute walk from Kintetsu Tomida Station or a 5-minute walk from JR Tomida Station.
- Parking
There is no parking.
Visitors are advised to use public transport.
Source: 【鳥出神社鯨船行事】ホーム
Address 2-16-4 Tomida, Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the event is scheduled to take place over 2 days, September 26 (Saturday) and the 27th (Sunday).
Starting in fiscal year Reiwa 7, the schedule has changed to take place each year on the Saturday and Sunday following September 23.
The first day centers on machineri parades through each neighborhood, and the second day on the honneri in the grounds of Tode Shrine.
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 Mie Prefecture / Yokkaichi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The machineri parade travels through each neighborhood, while the honneri takes place in the grounds of Tode Shrine, so choose where to go based on the scenes you want to see.
During the honneri, the whale ships proceed from the torii gate into the shrine grounds and perform offerings.
There is no parking at the venue, so it is convenient to follow the guidance to travel by public transport from Kintetsu Tomida Station or JR Tomida Station.
Nearby attractions
四日市市立博物館
三重県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
澄懐堂美術館
三重県四日市市にある美術館
鳥出神社
三重県四日市市富田にある神社
Origins and History of Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event
There are several views on the origins of the Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event.
One tradition links the event to a model gozabune presented to Tode Shrine and says it began around 1781, while another view attributes its influence to military training by the Kishu Domain and the voyages of gozabune.
Passed down as an event that incorporates whale hunting into the festival’s ceremonial pageantry, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1997 and inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.
Official information
The Yokkaichi City Board of Education’s official guide to the “Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event” provides an overview of the event, its program, venue, access, and cultural heritage status.
The city’s guide also describes the progression from the machineri parade to the honneri in the shrine grounds, as well as its inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event at a Glance
The Tode Shrine Whale Ship Event is a traditional event in which 4 groups from the Tomida district of Yokkaichi City pull whale ships and perform a sequence from spotting and pursuing a whale to its counterattack and harpooning.
The event includes machineri parades through the neighborhoods and the honneri at Tode Shrine, as well as songs, taiko, and dancing.
The 2026 event is scheduled for September 26 and the 27th. You can walk to the venue from Kintetsu Tomida Station or JR Tomida Station.
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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