Nada Fighting Festival 2026

Dates & time: October 14, 2026 (Wed) - October 15, 2026 (Thu) Oct 14: floats enter the shrine from around 11:00 / Oct 15: from the Tsuyuharai rite around 4:30
cost: Free to visit and watch from public viewing areas
Venue & access: Matsubara Hachiman Shrine and Otabiyama area About 5 min south on foot from Shirahamanomiya Station on the Sanyo Railway to Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. Limited express trains are expected to make special stops during the festival. No parking is available. Otabiyama is about 15 min west of the shrine on foot.

There are 1 public restrooms within a 8-minute walk of Matsubara Hachiman Shrine and Otabiyama area. The map shows each with its walking time.

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

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Why You Should Visit

Matsubara Hachiman Shrine's annual autumn festival, held every October 14–15 in Himeji. Seven districts bring ornate floats to the shrine on the first day; the main day features three portable shrines colliding in a dramatic ritual and powerful float processions.

Programs

Timetable & Map

NOTE

Yoimiya (Oct 14)

Each district brings out its float, parades it around the neighbourhood, then carries it into Matsubara Hachiman Shrine
Once inside, floats clash in front of the worship hall and the tower gate. After dark the Higashiyama, Yaka and Usazaki floats light up

Honmiya (Oct 15)

The day opens with the Tsuyuharai and Shiokaki rites; after the floats enter the shrine, three mikoshi and the floats process to Otabi-yama
On the hilltop arena the mikoshi are smashed into each other. Each float gets 30 minutes going up and 20 minutes coming down
At dusk the mikoshi return to the shrine and the floats head home

2026 duty district

Matsubara (the seven districts take turns as mikoshi bearers, once every seven years)

Road closures

Roads around the shrine, including the old Route 250, become pedestrian-only on Oct 14 from 10:00 to 20:00 (some sections until 13:00) and on Oct 15 from 8:30 to 23:30
On Oct 15 the stairs up Otabi-yama that bypass Hirobata are one-way
Only bearers in happi or loincloths and festival officials may enter the arena on Otabi-yama

*Times are approximate and may run late

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出典: 松原八幡神社氏子総代会「令和8年執行日程・交通規制図」（灘のけんか祭り公式サイト掲載）

Kobe · Gluten-free

All danjiri & autumn festivals in Kansai →

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FAQ

When is the festival held each year?

The eve festival is usually held on October 14 and the main festival on October 15. Ceremony times can vary, so check the official site shortly before visiting.

Can I go by car?

There is no festival parking. Because heavy crowds and traffic restrictions are expected, walking from Shirahamanomiya Station on the Sanyo Railway is recommended.

When should I go to see the highlights?

On Oct 14 the floats enter the shrine one by one, from Higashiyama at 11:00 to Nakamura at 15:00. On Oct 15 the procession sets out for Otabi-yama between 11:50 and 13:40 and comes back down between about 16:30 and 18:25.

How do I get to Otabiyama?

About 15 minutes' walk west of Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, about 10 minutes south-east of Mega Station, or about 15 minutes west of Shirahamanomiya Station on the Sanyo Railway.