Toyohashi’s Gion Festival has a proud history of over 450 years of ceremonies and rituals. It is a three-day festival that takes place in the last week of July (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), when the rainy season ends.
A very famous festival, with fireworks cannon displays, Tezutsu fireworks (hand-held fireworks), fireworks display on the Toyogawa River with over 12,000 explosions, one of the largest fireworks displays in the region, parades of the Yoritomo procession and the traditional Sasa Odori dance.
At the Toyohashi Gion Festival the procession is called Yoritomo, it was formerly known as the Shishinosu procession which made its way through the Yatsuga-machi area and was known as Mikoshi Togyo.
Tezutsu Fireworks and Cannons at Yoshida Shrine
It is held on the last Friday of July from 6pm at the Yoshida Shrine, a neighborhood competition, with displays of fireworks cannons and hand-held fireworks called Tezutsu. The fireworks display begins shortly before dark, with the fireworks cannon rituals, where the person covers the mouth of the cannon with their own body so that the sparks do not fall inside while the ritual is performed. Soon after, the Tezutsu fireworks (hand-held fireworks) begin, and it becomes increasingly beautiful with the small hand-held fireworks during some intervals.
Toyogawa River Fireworks Display
It takes place on the last Saturday of July from 7pm onwards. It is the famous fireworks display on the banks of the Toyogawa River, which makes the river a wonderful spectacle and leaves the sky of the city of Toyohashi brilliantly colored.
It is considered one of the largest fireworks displays in the region, with over 12,000 explosions in the sky, including fireworks from boats and fireworks over water called KINGYO. This famous fireworks display attracts thousands of visitors every year. The fireworks display starts at 7 pm, but before sunset, some rare fireworks are launched.
Yoritomo Procession Parade
It is held on the last Sunday of July from 5 pm, the last day of the festival, with a presentation of the Yoritomo procession parade and the famous Sasa odori dance.
The Yoritomo Procession is accompanied by a dancer from the Higashi Mikawa region who is unique to Sakai Odori. The style of Zen dance is said to date back to the 1680s. Dancers dressed in scarlet robes form a group of three, one dancing with a drum and the other two with small drums. And every year on the eve of the festival (Thursday), beautiful children dance the famous Sasa Odori dance.
Furthermore, a boy named Yoritomo rides along with a group of ten warlords.
The Toyohashi Gion Festival is held during the third week of July (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Schedule:
- Thursday: Free admission, Children’s Sasa Odori Dance from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
- Friday: Free admission, Pre-Festival (Yoshida Shrine) from 6:00pm.
- Saturday: Admission 5,000 yen per person, Fireworks display on the banks of the Toyogawa River from 6:00pm.
- Sunday: Free admission, Procession, rituals, Sasa Odori Dance. From 5:00pm.
※ Note: Tickets can be purchased at konbini
Aichi-ken Toyohashi-shi Sekiyachō 2