murmurSaio Matsuri
Meiwa Town · Saio no Mori to Saiku Heian no Mori, Saiku, Meiwa
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Saio Matsuri Executive Committee · Last checked: Oct 11, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Sat, Jun 6, 2026 （Ended） 10:00–18:00
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually early June
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Usually a Saturday in early June; cancelled if it rains
- Venue
- Saio no Mori to Saiku Heian no Mori, Saiku, Meiwa
- City
- Meiwa Town, Mie
About
More than 100 people in Heian court dress reenact the Saio Gunko, the journey of the Saio from the capital to Ise, in Meiwa's Saiku district, where the Saio once lived. The Saio were unmarried imperial princesses who served Ise Grand Shrine in the emperor's place. The procession begins with a departure ceremony at Saio no Mori, including the handing over of a cypress fan, purification and send-off rites, then walks to Saiku Heian no Mori, where the Saiku administrative buildings have been reconstructed, ending with an arrival rite. The festival started in 1983 on the suggestion of a local women's association; performers, the Saio included, are chosen by public application, and a volunteer committee runs the event. Food trucks and stalls of the Itsukinomiya Market and stage events are also on. It is cancelled if it rains.
Sources
- OfficialSaio Matsuri Executive Committee saioh.jp
- OfficialMie Tourism Federation (Kanko Mie) www.kankomie.or.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
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.