HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Ibi Festival at Miwa Shrine
A Japanese festival featuring children's Kabuki and a mikoshi parade
Ibigawa Town, Gifu Prefecture
The Ibi Festival, which dates back to the early eighteenth century, takes place at Miwa Shrine every year on May 4th and 5th. Five districts in the area have their own big, gorgeous floats called yama—a designated tangible folk cultural property of Gifu Prefecture—and these five yama floats all gather on the shrine grounds for the festival. Local children dressed up in kimono line up for a procession walk called oneri and perform hour-long Kabuki plays on stages built on each yama float. There are several performances on both days.
Kaeriyama, in which people drag the floats back to the warehouses at night, the sounds of their wooden wheels resonating through town, is another sight to see. The energetic parade featuring three large mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by adults and ten smaller mikoshi carried by young people is also a must-see event. Between the children's Kabuki plays and the mikoshi parade, the Ibi Festival is a wonderful opportunity to witness traditions that have been passed down since the Edo period (1603-1867).
How to get there
From Nagoya Station, take the JR Tokaido Main Line to Ogaki Station (about 40 minutes), then take the Yoro Line to Ibi Station (about 25 minutes). From Ibi Station, take the Hanamomo bus to the Kitashinmachikaikan stop on weekdays, or the Fureai bus to the Ibigawacho stop on weekends and holidays.
1322 Miwa, Ibigawa-cho, Ibi-gun, Gifu-ken
