Kansai · WakayamaFestival
Eight towering kasahoko floats line up on the bridge over the Aizu River after dark — the signature scene of Wakayama’s Tanabe Matsuri.
Overview
Tanabe Matsuri is the grand festival of Tokei Jinja, a shrine included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. It is counted among the three great festivals of Kishu and is the largest in the Kinan area.
Eight ornate kasahoko floats, each belonging to a former castle-town merchant district, are hauled through the streets of Tanabe by around 250 people over roughly a kilometre. The 2026 edition is the 465th.
When and Where
Fixed dates of 24 and 25 July every year. The 24th is the yoimiya, running from the mikoshi departure in the morning through to around 22:15. The 25th, the main day, opens with the “Akatsuki no Saiten” dawn rite at about 04:30 and runs to roughly 21:45.
Tourism listings summarise this more simply as late afternoon to night on the 24th, and from 10:00 to night on the 25th.
What to Expect
- Eight kasahoko floats, each maintained by a historic merchant district of the old castle town
- The floats lined up and lit on the old Aizu Bridge over the Aizu River on the night of the 24th
- The “Suya no hashiri” run on the night of the 25th
- A yabusame horseback archery rite on the main day
- The okasa floats entering the shrine precinct after dark
- A dawn rite at Tokei Jinja from around 04:30 on the 25th
Admission and Practicalities
Free to watch — the parade takes place on public streets.
The festival is organised by the Tanabe Kasahoko Preservation Society together with Tokei Jinja, which can be reached on 0739-22-0155.
Tips for Visitors
The bridge scene on the night of the 24th is what people travel for. Get to the Aizu River before dark to find a spot along the bank.
Tanabe is about five minutes on foot from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, which is on the Kisei Main Line — straightforward from Osaka as a long day trip, but an overnight is more comfortable given the late finishes.
Late July in Wakayama is hot and humid well into the evening. Carry water; convenience stores near the route sell out.
Access and Map
| Dates | 24–25 July 2026 (465th edition; annual fixed dates) |
|---|---|
| Times | 24 July approx. 08:45–22:15; 25 July from 04:30 to approx. 21:45 |
| Venue | Tokei Jinja and central Tanabe streets, 1-1 Toyo, Tanabe City |
| Access | Approx. 5 min walk north of JR Kii-Tanabe Station (Kisei Main Line) |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Tanabe City Tourism Association |
Source: Tanabe City Tourism Association
Image: Photo: Dryota39 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
