Ishioka Matsuri (Hitachi-no-Kuni Sousha-gu Reitaisai) Venue (around Hitachi-no-Kuni Sousha-gu and throughout the city's neighborhoods)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This is the Ishioka Matsuri (Hitachi-no-Kuni Sousha-gu Reitaisai), staged across Ishioka City's neighborhoods and centered on Hitachi-no-Kuni Sousha-gu. In 2026 it runs for three days, from Saturday, September 19 to Monday, September 21 (a national holiday), and this course puts the spotlight on the first day, September 19. Counted as one of the three great festivals of the Kanto region, it's a long, lively festival in which large horo-jishi and numerous floats parade through various parts of the city from 9:00 to 21:00. Over the course of the day you can watch the Hitachi Kokubunji Temple Ruins and the townscape along Fuchu-dori Street, which you walked in the morning, gradually become dyed in festival colors from daytime into night. Food stall availability varies from year to year, so it's recommended to plan meals at restaurants in the city.

Season & hours

Tips

During the festival, the city center is under traffic restrictions for long stretches and gets very crowded. Using public transportation is the safer choice. Since the festival continues for many hours from morning until night, be sure to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. The horo-jishi move with loud sounds, so families with small children will feel more at ease watching from a distance.

Best time to visit

From the 9:00 AM start until 21:00. From evening onward, once the sun sets and the lanterns are lit, is when the excitement is at its height.

Access & map

Ibaraki Prefecture, Ishioka City, around Hitachi-no-Kuni Sousha-gu (throughout the city's neighborhoods)