About the festival
Kuwana Ishidori Festival is known for the powerful sound of drums and gongs on neighborhood floats. Each group approaches the shrine in an assigned order.
Who is it for?
Visitors particularly interested in festival percussion and local float traditions.
Photo: Outside147 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Original date: 1 August 2004 (according to Exif data). Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
Usually the first Sunday in August and the previous day
Usual season; next dates not confirmed. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Kuwana · 桑名
Floats approach Kuwana Sosha, also called Kasuga Shrine, via the Kyomachi intersection area. Neighborhood departure points and north/south queue arrangements vary by year.
桑名宗社・周辺町内
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- From Nagoya, take JR Kansai Line or Kintetsu Nagoya Line to Kuwana and walk toward Kuwana Sosha.
What to see
- Drums and gongs
- Neighborhood floats
- Shrine offerings
History and origins
The festival continues Kuwana Sosha's neighborhood float rites and belongs to the UNESCO-listed float traditions.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Choose a street for the music, then use the shrine approach schedule if you want to see the offerings.
Places to visit nearby
Rokkaen
六華苑
A residence combining Japanese and Western architecture, with a garden.
Visit by day before the louder evening float events and check the residence's opening hours.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Kuwana Ishidori Festival: common questions
When is Kuwana Ishidori Festival?
Usually the first Sunday in August and the previous day This is the usual season, rather than a confirmed timetable for the next edition. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Kuwana Ishidori Festival take place?
Floats approach Kuwana Sosha, also called Kasuga Shrine, via the Kyomachi intersection area. Neighborhood departure points and north/south queue arrangements vary by year.
How do I get to Kuwana Ishidori Festival by public transport?
From Nagoya, take JR Kansai Line or Kintetsu Nagoya Line to Kuwana and walk toward Kuwana Sosha.
Do all floats approach the shrine together?
They follow an assigned order. Check both the timetable and route map for the year's approach streets.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (www.kankomie.or.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.kuwana-ishidori.com) ↗
Sources reviewed: .