Name: Yoshida Festival Procession
Start: 2026-11-03
End: 2026-11-03
Location: Higashi-koji to Sakuracho, Yoshida-cho (Nanzan Hachiman Shrine and the former Yoshida Jinya town area)

The Yoshida Festival procession winds through the former castle-town district of Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City, with a variety of floats, including neriguruma, ofune, kanoko, and ushioni. It preserves the festival traditions that have continued since the late Edo period.

About Yoshida Festival Procession

Yoshida Festival Procession（Ehime Prefecture・Uwajima City） · 2026 festival poster — 2026 Yoshida Festival Procession — Created by Japanese Festivals.jp

The Yoshida Festival procession is a sacred procession held as part of the autumn grand festival at Hachiman Shrine in Tatemama, Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City.

A variety of festival floats handed down in the Nanyo region—including ofune, neriguruma, kanoko, ushioni, Takarada, and Goyoneri—form a procession through the streets of the former Yoshida castle-town district.

The festival traditions dating back to the late early modern period are carried on amid a town layout that has remained unchanged since the Edo period.

It was designated a National Important 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 variety of attractions appearing in a single procession: neriguruma, which are 6 puppet floats; ofune, modeled on the former domain lord’s ceremonial boat; kanoko, in which 7 deer dance; and ushioni, unique to the Nanyo region.

The neriguruma are decorated with puppets and embroidered curtains, while musicians perform inside the floats.

The sight of ushioni and moving through the town, along with the appearance of Takarada, the Seven Lucky Gods, and yotsudaiko drums, creates a scene unique to the Yoshida Festival.

Source: 9/18配信 - 宇和島市ホームページ｜四国・愛媛伊達十万石の城下町

A traditional procession of neriguruma and ushioni bringing color to the Yoshida castle-town district

What to expect

The festival begins with the annual festival rites and Yoimiya Takarada on November 2, followed by the Usunokoku sumo event early on November 3.

On the 3rd, the procession of kanoko, mikoshi, neriguruma, ushioni, and other floats forms the Miyuki Festival, and the floats make their way through the former Yoshida castle-town district.

In 2026, the procession is scheduled to begin near Gotemmae at around 10:30 a.m., with hands-on participants dispersing shortly after noon.

How to take part

In 2026, around 10 people will be recruited to take part in the hands-on experience as neriguruma float pullers.

Advance registration is required to participate. The application deadline is October 16.

Participation in the 2026 hands-on experience requires advance registration. The application deadline is October 16.

On November 3, gather at the Yoshida Branch Office by 10 a.m. and take part as a neriguruma float puller near Goten-mae (the north corner of Yoshida Hospital) from 10:30 a.m.

Participants are expected to wear coats, and the activity ends shortly after noon.

Location and access

Venue and address: Higashikoji to Sakuracho, Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture (Nanzan Hachiman Shrine and the former Yoshida castle-town district)
Train and bus: No information available
By car: No information available
Parking: Available

Source: 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

Address Higashikoji to Sakuracho, Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture (Nanzan Hachiman Shrine and the former Yoshida castle-town district)

Open in Google Maps

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

In 2026, it will be held on November 3.

U-no-koku sumo takes place in Tate until 5 a.m., followed by a parade from 11 a.m. until around 3:30 p.m.

Kanoko, ushioni, neriguruma floats, and other participants appear around the Yoshida Branch Office and at locations such as Sakura Bridge.

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)

Supported by Rakuten Developers

Tips for your visit

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：As6022014 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Origins and History of Yoshida Festival Procession

The Yoshida Festival is passed down in an area that flourished in the early modern period as the castle-town district of Yoshida Domain, a branch domain of Uwajima Domain.

Hachiman Shrine was revered as the tutelary shrine of Yoshida Domain, and the festival is said to have begun when the domain’s first lord, Date Munesumi, donated a mikoshi.

The procession is also depicted in picture scrolls from the end of the Edo period and has been carried on alongside the town’s street layout from the late Edo period to the present day.

Official information

Uwajima City’s cultural property information introduces the location, designation date, event details, and preservation organization for the Yoshida Festival procession.

The call for 2026 hands-on participants and the venue are announced in an article published on September 18, 2026 on the Uwajima City website.

The National Database of Designated Cultural Properties also provides the public dates and location as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.