Why You Should Visit
The autumn festival of Shikama in Himeji, held every year on 8 and 9 October and also known as the Shikama Festival. The centrepiece is the daiba-neri, designated an important intangible folk cultural property by the city: of roughly 80 bearers, 24 crouch under the float's base and lift a yatai weighing close to two tonnes on their shoulders alone. The moment the float leaves the ground and appears to float is why this is known as a festival of raw strength. Eight parish districts bring out their floats: Higashibori, Tokura, Miyuki, Sakaemachi, Tamachi, Shimizu, Kitahosoe and Ose.
Essentials
- location
- Ebisunomiya Tenman Shrine and its eight parish districts, Shikama, Himeji
- period
- October 8, 2026 (Thu) - October 9, 2026 (Fri)
- cost
- Free to watch
- Links
- Kobe · Gluten-free
- access
- About a 10-minute walk southwest from Shikama Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway. There is no temporary parking nearby and roads are closed during the festival, so public transport is the reliable option.
- NOTE
Daiba-neri
- Of about 80 bearers, 24 go under the float's base and carry the deck on their shoulders alone
- Performed during the float procession and the entry into the shrine
- Designated an important intangible folk cultural property by Himeji City in 2007
The eight parish districts
Higashibori / Tokura / Miyuki / Sakaemachi / Tamachi / Shimizu / Kitahosoe / Ose
* The dates are fixed each year as 8 and 9 October. Schedules, procession routes and road closures are announced locally shortly beforehand.
Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)There are 1 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Ebisunomiya Tenman Shrine and its eight parish districts, Shikama, Himeji. The map shows each with its walking time.
Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.
FAQ
Does it cost anything to watch?
When can I see the daiba-neri?
Are the dates the same every year?
Calendar
Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.
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