Kuwana Ishidori Matsuri
Billed as Japan's noisiest festival: dozens of lantern-lit festival cars thunder through Kuwana to a relentless din of drums and gongs deep into the night.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/08/02 09:30 – 2026/08/02
- Where
- Kuwana Sosha (Kasuga) Shrine and central Kuwana（Honmachi 46, Kuwana City, Mie）
- City
- Nagoya
- Getting there
- 10-min walk from JR/Kintetsu Kuwana Station.
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Kuwana Sosha (Kasuga) Shrine
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- 10-min walk from JR/Kintetsu Kuwana Station. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, night owls
Highlights
- Lantern-decked festival cars (saisha)
- Thunderous all-night drums and gongs
- Hanaguruma procession from 22:00 on Honraku
Background & story
A UNESCO-listed float festival of Kuwana Sosha Shrine, held on the first Sunday of August (Honraku) and the preceding Saturday (Shiraku).
Good to know
The Honraku night of the first Sunday is loudest — bring ear protection if sensitive.