Shinko Procession of the Yoshida Autumn Festival

The of the Yoshida Autumn Festival is a traditional event in which a variety of processional floats celebrating the festival of Hachiman Shrine make their way through Yoshida, where the old street layout remains. You can get a close look at distinctive sights of the Nanyo region, such as the Kanoko, Neriguruma, and ushioni.

About Shinko Procession of the Yoshida Autumn Festival

The Shinko procession of the Yoshida Autumn Festival is the Shinko procession of the autumn held at Hachiman Shrine in Tatsuma, Yoshida Town, Uwajima City.

Ofune, Neriguruma, Kanoko, ushioni, Hōta, and others appear, and the oneri procession unfolds through Yoshida, where the old street layout remains.

A key feature is the chance to see, all at once, the festival traditions passed down since the late Edo period and processional floats unique to the Nanyo region.

It became a nationally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2025.

Source: 国指定吉田祭のお練り行事 - 宇和島市ホームページ｜四国・愛媛伊達十万石の城下町

Festival highlights

Highlights include the oneri procession, featuring the Kanoko, Neriguruma, Ofune, ushioni, and .

The 7 Kanoko perform along the route and leap into the dance area to the sound of flutes and chest drums, before the performance develops into a contest among the male deer over a female.

The roofed, two-story Neriguruma are fitted with ornamental figures and musicians; their three-dimensional embroidered curtains are also striking.

Another distinctive scene is the ushioni parading through town to drive away evil spirits.

Yoshida’s autumn festival brings the Nanyo region’s processional floats to life amid its old streets

What to expect

The festival begins with the Ise Odori and Yoimiya Hōta following the reisai , as well as the early-morning Uzunokoku sumo.

This is followed by the Miyuki Festival procession, in which the Kanoko, mikoshi, Neriguruma, ushioni, and others parade through town, with a variety of processional floats forming the procession.

During the Ise Odori, dancers sing to the beat of , while 3 matches are offered as at the Uzunokoku sumo event.

During Yoimiya Hōta, participants walk through town carrying masks and visit homes and shops to offer prayers.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address

The event takes place around Hachiman Shrine (Tatsuma), Yoshida Town Shopping Street, and Sakura Bridge.

The address is 1-3908 Tatsuma, Yoshida-cho, Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture.

Parking

Free parking is available at Yoshida Park.

Source: 吉田秋祭の神幸行事（国指定無形民俗文化財）/11月3日 - うわじま観光ガイド / 吉田町秋祭り｜愛媛のイベントを探す｜愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】

Address 1-3908 Tatsuma, Yoshida-cho, Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: Every year on November 3
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Ehime Prefecture / Uwajima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

愛媛県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。

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Photo and data sources

写真：As6022014 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Origins and History of Shinko Procession of the Yoshida Autumn Festival

The Shinko procession of the Yoshida Autumn Festival has preserved the festival pageantry that took shape in the late Edo period amid the town’s old street layout.

Several picture scrolls painted in the late Bakumatsu period show what the procession looked like.

The Kanoko is thought to have changed from the Five-Deer version depicted in the scrolls to the Seven-Deer version around the early Showa period.

Hōta disappeared for a time, but was restored and revived at the Yoshida Autumn Festival from fiscal year Heisei 27.

Official information

The Uwajima City official website introduces the Yoshida Festival’s oneri procession as a nationally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

The site features information about festival events and explanations of each processional float, as well as links to a comprehensive survey report and archival footage of the tradition.

Its location is given as Yoshida Town.

Source: 「吉田秋祭の神幸行事」総合調査報告書 - 宇和島市ホームページ｜四国・愛媛伊達十万石の城下町