Tall doll-topped floats turn through Sawara’s narrow old streets to festival music. Summer and autumn use different neighbourhoods, so an earlier visit does not tell you where to wait this time.
Sawara Grand Festival dates
Autumn: October 9–11, 2026, 10:00–22:00 JST; summer edition held separately in July
Upcoming confirmed edition
Dates and times use JST. The recorded dates apply only to the stated edition. Read the organiser’s programme for start times, tickets, postponements and cancellations.
Where to watch
Katori / Sawara · 香取・佐原
Autumn around Suwa Shrine west of the Onogawa; summer around Yasaka Shrine east of the river
佐原の町並み
Summer takes place east of the Ono River around Yasaka Shrine. Autumn uses streets west of the river around Suwa Shrine. Floats leave from different neighborhoods; Sawara Station is not a single common starting point.
The directions below use one representative location, not every venue entrance or the complete procession route. Use the official venue map for your ticket or programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Travel by JR via Chiba and Narita to Sawara Station, then walk to the autumn area. Consult Katori’s current transport notice for special trains rather than assuming they operate every year.
Planning your visit
Watch float turns from the side of the street without blocking their route. Daylight reveals carvings; evening brings lantern-lit floats.
This is an editorial travel suggestion, not a claim of a personal visit or a guarantee of the programme. When travelling from Canada, use your Japan arrival date to select the festival day.
What to look for
- Large figure-topped floats
- Sawara-bayashi music
- Historic-street maneuvers
History and traditions
The float tradition has around 300 years of history. The summer and autumn shrine festivals together are known as Sawara Grand Festival.
Photo: katorisi · CC BY 3.0. Original or supplied reduced image; no additional edits. See the original file for its date and context.
Nearby places to consider
The Inoh Tadataka Museum · 伊能忠敬記念館
Maps and surveying materials connected with Inoh Tadataka.
Visit the museum and riverside streets by day, then watch the evening floats nearby.
The description and suggested visit refer to the first attraction listed. Other links are separate nearby options; festival traffic and opening hours may affect your plans.
Sawara Grand Festival questions
When is Sawara Grand Festival?
Autumn: October 9–11, 2026, 10:00–22:00 JST; summer edition held separately in July. These dates belong only to the stated edition; they do not confirm a later year.
How do I reach Sawara Grand Festival by public transport?
Travel by JR via Chiba and Narita to Sawara Station, then walk to the autumn area. Consult Katori’s current transport notice for special trains rather than assuming they operate every year.
Are Sawara’s summer and autumn festivals in the same area?
No. Summer uses the Yasaka Shrine area east of the Onogawa; autumn uses the Suwa Shrine area west of the river. Float routes differ between editions.
Official programme and sources
- Official reference · www.city.katori.lg.jp ↗
- Official reference · www.city.katori.lg.jp ↗
- Official reference · www.city.katori.lg.jp ↗
Shared source records reviewed October 3, 2026. Some official pages are in Japanese. JapanLiveNow’s English guide is independently edited; the organiser’s latest announcement takes precedence.