The spear-throwing is the thing to watch: a feathered kevari pole is tossed from one marcher to the next without breaking step, all the way down the street.
Overview
Hagi is a castle town whose Edo street plan survives so completely that you can still navigate it with a period map, and it was the home of the Choshu domain figures who drove the Meiji Restoration. The Hagi Jidai Matsuri builds on the Hagi daimyo gyoretsu, a feudal procession offered to Kanaya Tenmangu Shrine since the Edo period.
The morning belongs to two traditional procession groups; the afternoon adds a broader costume parade with figures from Hagi’s history.
When and where
The 2026 festival is scheduled for Sunday 15 November, running from 08:00 to 16:00, based at Chuo Park and moving through the town.
The Hiyako Sonaegumi procession sets out around 08:00; the main Hagi Jidai Parade leaves Chuo Park about midday and reaches Kanaya Shrine in the afternoon.
Getting there
Hagi is roughly an hour by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen, and about 20 minutes by car from the Edo interchange. Chuo Park is a ten-minute walk from the Hagi bus centre. The old town is flat and best seen on a rental bicycle, which also lets you follow the procession between viewing points.
What to expect
Around 200 marchers in the traditional procession, plus the parade groups in the afternoon.
- Kevari feathered spears thrown between marchers with the call isayo-shi
- Zori-mai, a sandal dance performed in front of the halted palanquin
- Choshu ippon-yari, handling of a 5.5-metre spear, offered at the shrine
- Parade groups representing the Mori lords, the Choshu Kiheitai militia and the Iwakuni gun corps
- A local produce fair, Hagi Furusato Matsuri, held at the same time at Chuo Park
Tickets and admission
Free. The procession routes are public streets; no ticket or reservation. Some sections are narrow, so follow the marshals and expect to move along.
Tips for visitors
Position yourself at the Hiyako Kagimagata bend or in front of the Hagi Museum in the morning, where the sandal dance is performed and the crowd is manageable. Mid-November is also when Hagi’s citrus and seafood are at their best, so build in lunch. If you have a second day, the Meirin Gakusha school building and the Kikugahama shoreline are both close to the parade route.
Access and map
| Dates | 15 November 2026, 08:00-16:00 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Chuo Park and central Hagi, Yamaguchi |
| Access | Bus from Shin-Yamaguchi station, about 60 minutes |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Oidemase Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism) |
Source: Oidemase Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi Prefecture official tourism site
Image: Photo: そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
