38th Benkei Festival

Essentials

location

Tokei Shrine, Ogigahama and Odori street, Tanabe (Wakayama)

period

October 2, 2026 (Fri) - October 3, 2026 (Sat)

Time

・Fri 2 Oct: 18:30 – around 20:30
・Sat 3 Oct: from 10:00 (Benkei Geta Dance around 15:00–16:00)

cost

No admission fee is listed on the official website

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

The venues are in central Tanabe, reached from JR Kii-Tanabe Station on the Kisei Line. Temporary car parks are available, though the organisers recommend public transport.

NOTE

Fri 2 October

• Benkei Densetsu drama in the grounds of Tokei Shrine, 18:30 – around 20:30. A cockfight is staged partway through

Sat 3 October

• Kishu Benkei Yosakoi: 35 teams dance at the Ogigahama, Parkside, Tokei Shrine and Aoi-dori stages, then parade along Odori street before the final at Ogigahama
• Benkei Geta Dance (Odori street), around 15:00–16:00. 15 teams parade in wooden geta, chanting "Sorya, untokosho!". Postponed to the next day if it rains
• Local products market (Ogigahama plaza) with shops from around Tanabe
• Performance by the Benkei Oniwaka Taiko drummers

Same night

• The Tanabe Fireworks Festival starts around 20:00 on 3 October at Ogigahama. It is a separate event from the Benkei Festival

※Enquiries: Benkei Festival Executive Committee (Tanabe Chamber of Commerce), 0739-22-5064

TAGS

History Heritage Culture Art Family Full Day

出典: 弁慶まつり実行委員会