Takamatsu’s guardian shrine holds one of the largest autumn festivals in Kagawa, and its signature is the fune – a huge roofed float shaped like a ship.
Overview
Iwaseo Hachimangu has been regarded as the protector of Takamatsu for centuries, and its autumn grand festival is the city’s biggest. Each district in the parish brings out its own float, including the ornate ship-shaped ones the festival is known for, and a mikoshi procession moves through the streets around the shrine.
Unlike the float-collision festivals elsewhere in Shikoku, this one is closer to a street party: the approach road is closed to cars, stalls line both sides, and families come out for the evening.
When and where
The festival is held on the third Saturday and Sunday of October each year, which in 2026 means 17 and 18 October. Events run through both days, with the busiest hours in the late afternoon and evening.
Nearest station: Kotoden Kataharamachi or Ritsurin-koen, both within walking distance; JR Takamatsu is about 15 minutes away by tram or taxi.
Getting there
From JR Takamatsu Station, take the Kotoden Kotohira line a few stops or a taxi for around ten minutes. The shrine sits at the top of Hachiman-dori, the approach street that becomes the festival’s main axis. Takamatsu Airport is roughly 40 minutes from the city centre by bus.
Parking near the shrine is very limited during the festival, so public transport is strongly advised.
What to expect
The festival combines a formal shrine rite with a large street event.
- Large roofed ship floats, called fune, pulled out by each district
- A mikoshi procession through the parish streets
- Hachiman-dori closed to traffic and lined with food stalls
- Evening crowds drawn from across the city, making this the biggest autumn festival in the prefecture by scale
- Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan’s finest strolling gardens, is a short ride away for the daytime
Tickets and admission
Free. No tickets or reserved viewing. The shrine grounds and the approach street are both open to the public throughout.
Tips for visitors
Come in the late afternoon and stay into the evening, when the floats are lit and the stalls are at their best. Combine the visit with Ritsurin Garden earlier in the day – it is two stops away on the same tram line and its autumn colours begin around this time. Cash is useful at the stalls, as many are run by local associations rather than businesses.
Access and map
| Dates | 17-18 October 2026 (third weekend of October) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Iwaseo Hachimangu and Hachiman-dori, Takamatsu, Kagawa |
| Access | Kotoden Kataharamachi or Ritsurin-koen station, then on foot |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association |
Source: Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association
Image: Photo: ラハール / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
