An autumn festival that fills Toyohama with the sound of drums and lavishly decorated chosa
Toyohama Chosa Festival
The 2026 edition of Toyohama Chosa Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/09 〜 2026/10/11Ended
- Season / frequency
- For 3 days starting on the 2nd Friday of October each year / Once a year
- Location
- Toyohama Hachiman Shrine, Ichinomiya Shrine, and other locations in the Toyohama district
- Area
- Kagawa Prefecture・Kanonji City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 15 min–1 h 35 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An autumn festival in Toyohama where lavishly decorated floats called chosa parade through town and demonstrate strength and skill in contests.
About Toyohama Chosa Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Araiyasushige File:Tyousakaikan20230804 1.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Toyohama Chosa Festival is an autumn festival passed down in Toyohama, Kanonji City, Kagawa Prefecture.
Carried by participants wearing coats, the taiko floats known as chosa are decorated with gold-thread embroidery and parade through the districts, holding strength contests at the resting places and open spaces.
The festival fills the streets of Toyohama with the sound of drums and spirited shouts as people pray for abundant harvests and catches and give thanks for peace and tranquility.
Source: さぬき豊浜ちょうさ祭 - 観音寺市観光協会 / トップページ - さぬき豊浜ちょうさ祭
Festival highlights
A highlight is the kakikurabe, where several chosa gather to compete in strength and skill.
On the final day, all 23 taiko floats gather at Ichinomiya Shrine, where participants maneuver the giant floats amid spirited shouts.
At night, lanterns and illuminations light up the festival, making the gold-thread decorations and the outlines of the taiko floats stand out in a splendor unlike their daytime appearance.
Source: 市内のちょうさ祭開催日程(令和8年) - 観音寺市
An autumn festival that fills Toyohama with the sound of drums and lavishly decorated chosa
What to expect
The festival runs from Friday through Sunday, with chosa from each district gathering at shrines and open spaces.
The festival procession winds through town to the beat of drums and spirited shouts. Rituals are also held, including the ’s departure from the shrine, a boat procession, and a offering.
The festivities progress from Saturday’s sound-and-light parade to Sunday’s kakikurabe at Ichinomiya Shrine and the “Oiri” at Toyohama Hachiman Shrine.
Source: 豊浜ちょうさ祭 - Wikipedia
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Toyohama Hachiman , Ichinomiya Jinja, and other locations in the Toyohama area.
The main listed address is Ichinomiya Jinja (156 Himehama, Toyohama-cho, Kanonji, Kagawa 769-1601).
- Train and bus
About a 10-minute walk (900 m) from JR Toyohama Station, or about 3 minutes by taxi (950 m).
From JR Kanonji Station, take the community bus to the area near the Suga intersection.
- By car
About 4 minutes (1.5 km) from the Ohnohara IC on the Takamatsu Expressway.
- Parking
Toyohama Elementary School, Toyohama Junior High School, the former Fujibo site, and Ichinomiya Beach are listed as temporary parking areas.
Address 156 Himehama, Toyohama-cho, Kanonji City, Kagawa Prefecture 769-1601 (Ichinomiya Shrine)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event was announced as scheduled to take place from October 9 (Fri) through October 11 (Sun).
The festival begins on the 9th, mainly around Toyohama Hachiman Shrine and Ichinomiya Shrine. An event is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on the 10th at Wada Omatsuri Plaza.
On the 11th, an event will be held at Ichinomiya Park Ground from 3 p.m.
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 Kagawa Prefecture / Kanonji City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The area around the venues may become very crowded during the autumn festival, so using public transportation is recommended whenever possible.
If you come by car, use the designated temporary parking lots and avoid parking without permission on private property or on the street.
Events may run ahead of or behind schedule depending on the venue and time, so it’s best to allow plenty of time to get to the events you want to see.
Nearby attractions
Ichinomiya Park is recommended as a place to visit near Toyohama, where the festival venues are located.
This seaside park overlooks the Seto Inland Sea and has a grassy plaza and an outdoor stage. It is also described as a place to enjoy the sunset.
Ichinomiya Dream Tower is also in the park.
Origins and History of Toyohama Chosa Festival
The chosa festival is a traditional event in which people carry giant taiko floats through town.
It is said to have roots in Kyoto’s Gion Festival, and accounts describe it as having been introduced to Kagawa Prefecture around 150–160 years ago.
In Toyohama, local traditions are passed down through taiko floats decorated with gold and silver thread, spirited shouts, and strength contests.
Official information
Official festival information is available on the official Sanuki Toyohama Chosa Festival website.
You can check the 2026 festival dates, the chosa routes in each district, and highlights.
Toyohama Chosa Festival at a Glance
Held in October in Toyohama, Kanonji City, the Toyohama Chosa Festival is a celebration of the power of the taiko floats and the prayers of the local community.
The 2026 event was announced as scheduled to take place from October 9 through the 11th, at venues including Toyohama Hachiman Jinja and Ichinomiya Jinja.
Enjoy the festival traditions passed down in Toyohama through the procession of lavishly decorated chosa, strength contests, mikoshi, lion dances, and nighttime illuminations.
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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