Shobogu Grand Festival

About this event

Held from October 10 to 14, 2026, in Katsumoto-cho on Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, the "Shobogu Grand Festival" is a representative autumn festival of Iki with approximately 350 years of history. The festival spans several days: on October 10, the "Toka-sai" takes place, during which the portable shrine (mikoshi) is transported to the temporary resting place (otabisho) aboard a sacred boat; on October 11 and 12, the "Nikku-sai" is held, offering daily food tributes to the mikoshi. At the eve festival on October 13, Iki Daikagura is performed, allowing visitors to experience the island's night culture. The festival's climax is the "Funaguro" boat race on October 14, an event unfolding in Katsumoto Bay that embodies the unique appeal of Iki Island living alongside the sea. Furthermore, on the following day, October 15, a fishing boat parade featuring vessels adorned with colorful big-catch flags (tairyo-bata) will be held, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival's lingering excitement. This festival is a precious opportunity to experience the island's unique atmosphere, where shrine devotion and the history and culture of people living alongside the sea merge together.

Venue

Shobogu Shrine

554-2 Katsumotoura, Katsumoto-cho, Iki, Nagasaki 811-5501