About the festival
Mikuni Festival brings figure-topped floats through a historic port town. Shrine gatherings and neighborhood routes give different views of the floats.
Who is it for?
Travelers interested in port history and elaborate float designs.
Photo: 藤谷良秀(Fujitani Yoshihide) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original date: 2022-05-20 12:10:55. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
Usually 19–21 May
Usual season; next dates not confirmed. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Sakai / Mikuni · 坂井・三国
Mikuni Shrine and the old town are the main venues. Floats gather at the shrine but leave from and return to different neighborhoods.
三國神社・三国旧市街
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- From Fukui, take Echizen Railway's Mikuni Awara Line to Mikuni-jinja or Mikuni, choosing the station for your viewing location.
What to see
- Figure-topped floats
- Shrine gatherings
- Port-town streets
History and origins
The shrine festival reaches back to the Edo period; records from 1697 mention kasaboko decorations.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
See the float details before they move, then settle at a street on the published route.
Places to visit nearby
Sakai City Ryusho Museum
坂井市龍翔博物館
A museum introducing Sakai and the former port town.
Allow time for the museum's separate approach before returning to the float streets.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Mikuni Festival: common questions
When is Mikuni Festival?
Usually 19–21 May This is the usual season, rather than a confirmed timetable for the next edition. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Mikuni Festival take place?
Mikuni Shrine and the old town are the main venues. Floats gather at the shrine but leave from and return to different neighborhoods.
How do I get to Mikuni Festival by public transport?
From Fukui, take Echizen Railway's Mikuni Awara Line to Mikuni-jinja or Mikuni, choosing the station for your viewing location.
Do all floats leave from Mikuni Station?
No. The station is an access point, not a shared float departure. Use the official neighborhood route map.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (mikunimatsuri.com) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.city.fukui-sakai.lg.jp) ↗
Sources reviewed: .