Akasaka Hikawa Festival 2026

About this event

The "Akasaka Hikawa Festival" will be held from Friday, September 11, to Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This festival is celebrated on a three-year cycle centered around three main elements: the "Miya Mikoshi" (main shrine palanquin), the "Combined Procession of Neighborhood Association Mikoshi," and "Edo-style Floats"; 2026 is the year where the Miya Mikoshi takes center stage. During the Shinkosai on Sunday, September 13, the shrine procession leads two Edo-style floats and the Miya Mikoshi together through the parishioner districts. This year marks milestone anniversaries—10 years since the restoration and renewal of the Miya Mikoshi and 20 years since the founding of the Akasaka Hikawa Float Preservation Society—making the majestic appearance of the Miya Mikoshi a must-see. Visitors can enjoy the powerful chants echoing through the streets and the close-up spectacle of the glittering Miya Mikoshi alongside the floats. On Friday, September 11, the "Yoimiya Procession" will take place as the illuminated Hikawa Float "Saru" (Monkey), two neighborhood association mikoshi, and drum floats tour the streets of Akasaka at night, while the "Akasaka Autumn Festival" is held concurrently in the commercial district, painting the entire area in festival colors. On Saturday, September 12, a "Children's Procession" connecting local traditions to the future will take place, featuring the Hikawa Float "Emperor Jimmu," drum floats, children's mikoshi, and adult mikoshi in the Akasaka district. The Ark Hills area will also host a procession with neighborhood mikoshi and children's floats. Food stalls and Bon Odori dancing will be held on the grounds of Akasaka Hikawa Shrine from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 13, and the "Akasaka Famous Stores Market," featuring tastes from renowned Akasaka establishments, will appear on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13. Furthermore, on September 12, sacred Gagaku music by the Hikawa Gagaku Society and choral performances by the Akasaka Hikawa Mixed Choir will be dedicated, further enlivening the festivities. On Tuesday, September 15, the Annual Grand Festival, the most important Shinto ritual of the year, will be solemnly performed.

Venue

Akasaka Hikawa Shrine

6-10-12 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052