Awa Yawatanmachi Festival at Tsurugaya Hachimangu Shrine

About

The autumn festival of Tsurugaya Hachimangu Shrine in Tateyama, formally the Awa Kokushisai and fondly called "Yawatanmachi," is the largest festival in the Awa region and a designated intangible folk cultural property of Chiba Prefecture. Mikoshi gather here from around the area, and today 10 shrines from Tateyama and Minamiboso send their mikoshi, while 5 more bring floats and boat-shaped floats. On the first day, the mikoshi are shaken hard and thrust high in the shrine grounds, a stirring display, and a water-drawing rite takes place at Moto-Hachiman Shrine in Fuchu, Minamiboso, the shrine's former site. On the evening of the final day, the floats assemble at the east exit of Tateyama Station and compete with drums and flutes, bringing the festival to its peak. Plenty of food stalls set up around the shrine. In the Edo period, the festival was known as Hojoe.

Sources

• OfficialTateyama City www.city.tateyama.chiba.jp
• OfficialChiba Prefectural Tourism & Local Products Association (Chiba Tourism Navi) maruchiba.jp

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.

Other events this month

• Kazusa Junisha Festival
• Kashiwa Matsuri Festival
• Katsuura Tairyo Matsuri (Big Catch Festival)
• Ohara Hadaka Matsuri