A Gion Festival where a fire-breathing Daijayama and drums bring summer to Watase
Watase Gion Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Saturday in mid-to-late July each year / Every year
- Location
- Watase district
- Area
- Fukuoka Prefecture・Miyama City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Watase Gion Festival is a summer festival in Takata Town, Miyama City, where the fire-breathing Daijayama parades through the Watase district to the sounds of drums and bells.
About Watase Gion Festival
The Watase Gion Festival is a summer festival held in the Watase district of Shimokusunda, Takata Town, Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
It takes place on a Saturday in mid-to-late July each year, with the Daijayama parading through the district.
It has been passed down as a Gion Festival that brings summer to the community, accompanied by the sounds of drums and bells.
Source: 渡瀬祇園祭 - Wikipedia / みやま まち歩き
Festival highlights
The highlight is the Daijayama, which is nearly 4 meters tall.
Accompanied by drums and bells played in a distinctive rhythm, the Daijayama parades through the district breathing fire.
The serpent’s size, the fiery spectacle, and the sound combine to create a powerful scene unique to the Watase Gion Festival.
A Gion Festival where a fire-breathing Daijayama and drums bring summer to Watase
What to expect
At the festival, the Daijayama makes its way through the district, with the procession accompanied by drums and bells.
In the past, after the eyes-opening ceremony, a daimyo procession set off, followed by the Daijayama as it paraded through the neighborhood.
Although the festival ceremonies have now been simplified, you can still enjoy a festival in which the Daijayama, fire, and music come together.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Watase district, Shimokusunda, Takata Town, Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Train and bus
It is a 15-minute walk from Nishitetsu Wataze Station on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line.
- By car
It is about 15 minutes by car from the Miyama-Yanagawa IC on the Kyushu Expressway.
Address Watase district, Shimokusunda, Takata Town, Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Saturday in mid-to-late July each 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 Fukuoka Prefecture / Miyama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Watase Gion Festival
The exact origins of the Watase Gion Festival are unclear, but it is believed to have begun in the Edo period.
Its connection to the Gion festivals held at many shrines in the Yanagawa domain is also noted.
Until 1992, a daimyo procession and the Daijayama paraded through the neighborhood. There was also an event in which the serpent was dismantled in a plaza and people competed to take its parts.
Watase Gion Festival at a Glance
The Watase Gion Festival is a summer festival held in the Watase district of Shimokusunda, Takata Town, Miyama City.
One of the major highlights is the nearly 4-meter-tall Daijayama breathing fire as it parades through the district to the sounds of drums and bells.
例年は7月中旬から下旬の土曜日に行われます。
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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