Kumano Hayatama Taisha Mifune Festival 2026

Why You Should Visit

The grand annual festival of Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingu, one of the Kumano Sanzan shrines, held every year on October 15 and 16 and designated a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property as the Shingu Hayatama Festival. On the 15th, the main hall rite is followed by the sacred horse procession at 14:00 and an evening rite at the otabisho (the deity's temporary resting place). On the 16th, the mikoshi procession at 14:00 is followed by the Mifune Festival from 16:30 and the otabisho rite from 17:30. Over two days you can see both the stirring Mifune Festival and the quiet, ancient rites at the otabisho.

Essentials

location

Kumano Hayatama Taisha and its otabisho, Shingu

period

October 15, 2026 (Thu) - October 16, 2026 (Fri)

Time

・Oct 15 (Thu) 11:00 main hall rite / 14:00 sacred horse procession / 16:30 otabisho rite
・Oct 16 (Fri) 14:00 mikoshi procession / 16:30 Mifune Festival / 17:30 otabisho rite

cost

No fee information on the official site

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

About 15 minutes on foot (5 minutes by taxi) from JR Shingu Station. By car, use the shrine's free car park (31 cars); when busy, the Gongen-gawara riverbank opens as an overflow car park

There are 1 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Kumano Hayatama Taisha and its otabisho, Shingu, and 2 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

NOTE

Highlights

Oct 15: sacred horse procession (14:00)
Oct 16: mikoshi procession (14:00) followed by the Mifune Festival (16:30)
Evening rites at the otabisho on both days

Cultural property

National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property: Shingu Hayatama Festival

*Inquiries: Kumano Hayatama Taisha 0735-22-2533

FAQ

When is it held each year?

Every year on October 15 and 16. The Mifune Festival starts at 16:30 on the 16th.

Is there parking?

The shrine has a free car park (31 cars, 4 large buses), and the Gongen-gawara riverbank opens as an overflow car park when busy. It is about a 15-minute walk from JR Shingu Station.

Who can I contact for details?

Kumano Hayatama Taisha (0735-22-2533).

Calendar

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