murmurShiokake Matsuri (Oshima Festival) - Seawater Splashing Festival
Shima City · Wagu Fishing Port and Oshima Island, Shima-cho Wagu, Shima
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Mie Tourism Federation (Kanko Mie) · Last checked: Oct 11, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Tue, Jul 14, 2026 （Ended）
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually in July
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Held every summer; the date changes from year to year
- Venue
- Wagu Fishing Port and Oshima Island, Shima-cho Wagu, Shima
- City
- Shima City, Mie
About
Wagu, a fishing town in Shima, is known for a festival in which people drench each other with seawater from their boats. It celebrates the yearly homecoming of Ichikishimahime, a sea-guarding goddess, from Yakumo Shrine in Wagu to a small shrine on Oshima, an island about 2.5 km offshore, and is said to be 800 years old. Local fishing boats follow the mando-bune carrying the sacred object to the island, where fishermen and ama divers offer local seafood in a Shinto rite. When the fleet returns to Wagu harbor, the splashing begins from boat to boat and the festival hits its peak. Getting soaked is said to keep colds away. In the evening there are night stalls, stage shows and fireworks. The festival prays for safety at sea and good catches.
Sources
- OfficialMie Tourism Federation (Kanko Mie) www.kankomie.or.jp
- OfficialShima City Tourism Association www.kanko-shima.com
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.