The flame at the head of the opening night’s lantern procession is carried from Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, 400 kilometres away.
Overview
Ichijo Shrine was built in 1862 to honour the Tosa-Ichijo clan, the noble family that fled the Onin War in Kyoto and laid out the town of Nakamura on a Kyoto street plan – which is why Shimanto is still called the Little Kyoto of Tosa.
The Ichijo Taisai is the shrine’s autumn grand festival and one of the three great festivals of Tosa. For three days the town centre fills with stalls and processions, drawing tens of thousands of people to a place that normally feels very quiet.
When and where
The festival is held on the same dates every year, 22, 23 and 24 November, so in 2026 that is Sunday 22 to Tuesday 24 November. The lantern procession is on the first evening; the children’s procession and kagura performances follow on the later days. Stalls run from around midday on 22 November to late afternoon on 24 November.
Nearest station: Nakamura, on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway, about 15 minutes on foot from the shrine.
Getting there
Nakamura Station is reached from Kochi in about 100 minutes by limited express on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway. Buses run from the station into the town centre, though the walk is manageable. Coming from Matsuyama or Uwajima, the Yodo line via Kubokawa is scenic but slow; allow most of a day.
Streets around the shrine are closed to vehicles for the stalls, so leave the car at the station if you have one.
What to expect
The three days each have a different character.
- The goshinka lantern procession on the eve, carrying a flame from Kyoto’s Shimogamo Shrine through the town
- A chigo procession of children in formal Heian-style dress, praying for their healthy growth
- Kagura dance offerings at the shrine
- Sports events and community programmes across the town
- More than 160 years of continuous history since the shrine’s founding
Tickets and admission
Free. No tickets, no reserved viewing. The shrine grounds and the stall streets are open to everyone; the lantern procession is best watched from the pavement along the route.
Tips for visitors
Come for the first evening if you have to choose – the lantern procession through a dark provincial town is the image that stays with you. Shimanto is the base for the Shimanto River, so build in a morning of cycling the riverbank or crossing one of the chinkabashi, the low bridges built without railings to let floodwater pass. Late November is cold after dark inland, so bring a warm layer.
Access and map
| Dates | 22-24 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Ichijo Shrine and central Shimanto (Nakamura), Kochi |
| Access | Nakamura station (Tosa Kuroshio Railway), 15 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Shimanto City |
Source: Shimanto City official website
Image: Photo: Saigen Jiro / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
