Saijo Festival (Ishioka Shrine Festival)

About this event

Saijo Festival is a traditional autumn festival in Saijo City that has continued since the Edo period, serving as a Shinto ritual to thank the deities for an abundant harvest. It is held as a collective term for the annual festivals of four shrines: Isono Shrine, Kamo Shrine, Ishioka Shrine, and Iizumi Shrine. Approximately 150 floats (danjiri, mikoshi, and taikodai) belonging to parishioner neighborhoods across the city are dedicated, which is said to be the largest number in Japan. During the festival, elaborately crafted floats form grand processions, and the sounds of taiko drums, gongs, and festival chanting echo throughout the town. It is frequently described as "gorgeous and dazzling," attracting numerous tourists every year despite being a local religious ritual. At the Ishioka Shrine festival, danjiri and mikoshi yatai floats are dedicated. At night, they operate illuminated by hundreds of paper lanterns, creating a signature Saijo Festival scene where intricate woodcarvings and lanterns overlap. Highlights include Miyadashi (departure from the shrine) and Miyairi (entry into the shrine); scenes where the floats depart from the shrine to welcome the sacred portable shrine and where the sacred portable shrine returns to the shrine at the end symbolize the beginning and conclusion of the festival. There are three types of floats: danjiri carried on shoulders, mikoshi yatai pulled on large wheels, and taikodai constructed separately to carry drums. During the festival period, it is noted that many restaurants and eateries in the city are closed, so securing food and drinks in advance provides peace of mind. Temporary restrooms are also set up. A free temporary parking lot is established on the left bank of the Kamo River. The venue is about a 20-minute walk from JR Iyo-Saijo Station. Traffic regulations will be in place, so checking the current year's route and restriction map is strongly recommended. No reserved bleacher seating is available and reserving viewing spots in advance is prohibited; visitors are expected to watch while standing along the roadside, so bringing comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing for waiting times is important.

Venue

Ishioka Shrine

1345-1 Himiotsu, Saijo, Ehime 793-0072