Nagahama Hikiyama Festival: Dates, Location & Travel

Children perform kabuki on decorated floats that serve as moving stages. To watch a complete performance, the stage location and timetable matter more than the procession’s movement.

Nagahama Hikiyama Festival: Kodomo kabuki ("children kabuki") performances are the highlight of the Hikiyama Matsuri in Nagahama,. Every year on April 15th, children perform theatrical plays on movable stages.
Like in real kabuki theater, boys perform both male and female roles and like in real kabuki, they fully engage in their acting. They even have a loud claque (大向う) applauding their appearances and poses.
Here is a scene of lady Shizuka from a classic Japanese play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" that opened the 2013 festival.

長浜曳山祭りの子ども歌舞伎の様子です。『義経千本桜』。. Archive or venue photo, not a view of the current edition. — Nagahama Hikiyama Festival: Kodomo kabuki ("children kabuki") performances are the highlight of the Hikiyama Matsuri in Nagahama,. Every year on April 15th, children perform theatrical plays on movable stages. Like in real kabuki theater, boys perform both male and female roles and like in real kabuki, they fully engage in their acting. They even have a loud claque (大向う) applauding their appearances and poses. Here is a scene of lady Shizuka from a classic Japanese play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" that opened the 2013 festival. 長浜曳山祭りの子ども歌舞伎の様子です。『義経千本桜』。. Archive or venue photo, not a view of the current edition.
Photo: lensonjapan · CC BY 2.0
Original date label: 2013-04-15 10:12:37. Original or supplied resized image; no additional editing.

Nagahama Hikiyama Festival dates

Usually April, with major events around April 15

Usual annual season · exact next dates not confirmed

Event dates and times use Japan Standard Time (JST). Usual annual dates are not a confirmed booking schedule for the next edition. Check the organizer’s notices for daily times, admission and weather-related changes.

Where to watch

Nagahama · 長浜

Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine and the old town
長浜八幡宮・市街

The map marks one reference point, not the entire route or every entrance. For village rites or moving processions, use the organizer’s venue map.

View reference location on Google Maps ↗

Getting there by train or bus

From Kyoto or Osaka, use JR services to Nagahama Station. The old town lies east of the station; consult the program for performance sites near the shrine.

History and traditions

The event preserves Edo-period float traditions and children’s kabuki, with the floats built to function as theatrical stages.

Nearby places to consider

These sights can help you plan the rest of your visit. Check each location’s opening hours and access separately; festival road closures may affect the journey.

Kurokabe Square

黒壁スクエア

Kurokabe Square: official visitor information ↗Find Kurokabe Square on Google Maps ↗

Before you visit Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

When is Nagahama Hikiyama Festival?

Usually April, with major events around April 15. These are the usual seasonal dates, not a confirmed schedule for the next edition. Check the linked organizer for times and changes.

How do I get to Nagahama Hikiyama Festival by public transportation?

From Kyoto or Osaka, use JR services to Nagahama Station. The old town lies east of the station; consult the program for performance sites near the shrine.

What should I plan before visiting Nagahama Hikiyama Festival?

Choose a performance and stay through it before inspecting the float decorations. Different sites have different times, so a passing float does not guarantee an immediate show.

These planning suggestions are JapanLiveNow’s editorial advice. Admission and operating arrangements follow the organizer’s current program.

Official program and visitor information

This guide uses the shared festival source register reviewed on October 3, 2026. Official notices take priority over archive photos and previous editions.