A Moriya summer festival featuring large banners, a mikoshi, and 5 dashi
Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Moriya City)
The 2026 edition of Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Moriya City) has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/25Ended
- Season / frequency
- The last Saturday of July every year / Every year
- Location
- Yasaka Shrine (Moriya’s principal guardian shrine, Yasaka Shrine)
- Area
- Ibaraki Prefecture・Moriya City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 10 min–1 h 30 min · limited express)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
The Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival is the annual grand festival of Yasaka Shrine, where a and 5 parade through Moriya. Highlights include the scenery of large banners lining the area, the mikoshi’s “揉む” (momu) ritual movements, and the revolving stages on the dashi.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: @yb_woodstock from Moriya, Ibaraki, JAPAN File:Hyottoko mask (3758464958).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 ひょっとこ (droll fellow - "HYOTTOKO")Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Moriya City)
The Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival is the annual grand festival of Yasaka Shrine, celebrated as one of Moriya City’s signature summer festivals.
The mikoshi and dashi parade through the area, drawing lively crowds.
Because 19 large banners are raised, the festival is also called the Nobori Festival. Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the deity enshrined at Yasaka Shrine, is known as a deity who wards off misfortune and illness.
Source: 無形民俗文化財｜守谷市公式サイト｜Moriya City / 祭り・民間信仰・伝統行事など｜守谷市公式サイト｜Moriya City
Festival highlights
The highlights are the parade of the mikoshi and 5 dashi.
In front of Yasaka Shrine and at locations where large banners are raised, the mikoshi is lowered twice until it is just above the ground, then lifted high into the air in a ritual known as “揉む” (momu).
Toward the end of the festival, the 5 dashi gather in front of the shrine, and their revolving stages spin energetically.
A Moriya summer festival featuring large banners, a mikoshi, and 5 dashi
What to expect
As part of the festival preparations, banners are raised, and the mikoshi and dashi parade through the area.
The mikoshi procession lasts about 6 hours, with “揉む” (momu) ritual movements performed at designated locations.
The 5 dashi have revolving stages, where Baka-bayashi music and Baka Odori dances are performed. Finally, the dashi gather in front of the shrine.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yasaka Shrine (Moriya’s principal guardian shrine, Yasaka Shrine) / 629 Honcho, Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture
- Train and bus
It is about a 9-minute walk from Moriya Station.
It is about a 1-minute walk from the Health Center bus stop.
Source: （7月下旬）八坂神社例大祭（祇園祭）｜守谷市公式サイト｜Moriya City / ⛩八坂神社｜茨城県守谷市 - 八百万の神
Address 629 Honcho, Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was scheduled for July 25 (Saturday) in 2026.
It is usually held on the last Saturday of July.
The 2026 event date has passed.
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 Ibaraki Prefecture / Moriya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Moriya City)
Yasaka Shrine is said to have been founded in Daido 1 (806).
The Gion Festival was held by at least Enkyo 1 (1744) to ward off epidemics and misfortune.
In the past, the festival days were from the 11th to the 15th day of the 6th lunar month. Since 1981, the main festival has been held on the last Saturday of July, and the event period was changed to 5 days, from Tuesday through Saturday.
Official information
The Moriya City official website lists the dates and venue for the Yasaka Shrine Grand Festival (Gion Festival).
The official website of Moriya’s principal guardian shrine, Yasaka Shrine, also has a page with the festival schedule.
Source: スケジュール – 守谷総鎮守八坂神社
Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Moriya City) at a Glance
The Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival is a major summer festival in Moriya City.
Highlights include the mikoshi’s “揉む” (momu) ritual movements, the revolving stages on the 5 dashi, and the Baka-bayashi music and Baka Odori dances.
You can enjoy this festival, passed down through the local community, especially in the lined with large banners and in the final scene, when the dashi gather in front of the shrine.
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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