Ōgaki Festival

Overview

The Ogaki Festival is a float festival held as the annual festival of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine, the chief tutelary shrine of Ogaki City in Gifu Prefecture. Thirteen floats called "yama" are pulled through the streets by the townspeople of the former castle town, featuring karakuri mechanical dolls and children's hand dances, attracting many visitors from the Ogaki area and the wider Seino region. This event has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan under the name "Ogaki Matsuri no Yama Gyoji" and is registered as a component of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals in Japan."

Ogaki City is located in the southwestern part of Gifu Prefecture, on the western edge of the Nobi Plain. In the early modern period, it flourished as the castle town of the Ogaki Domain. It also served as a post town on the Mino Road connecting the Nakasendo and Tokaido highways, and as a hub for water transportation using the Suimon River, a tributary of the Ibi River. The Ogaki Festival developed as a castle town festival in this center of the Seino region. Its unique form, in which three floats bestowed by the domain lord coexist with the "hon-yama" floats created by the townspeople, is extremely rare nationwide. The procession of 13 floats parading through the fresh greenery of the castle town over a distance of approximately 8.8 kilometers draws large crowds as the largest festival in the Seino region.

History and Origins

According to tradition, the origins of the Ogaki Festival date back to 1648. It is said that when the lord of the Ogaki Domain, Toda Ujiharu, rebuilt and restored Hachiman Shrine, the chief deity of the castle town, the 18 villages of the castle town expressed their joy by donating three portable shrines, and the 10 towns of Ogaki created and paraded 10 floats. This initial display of floats by the towns is thought to have formed the foundation for the later Ogaki Festival.

In 1679, the domain lord Toda Ujiaki bestowed three floats upon the shrine: the Kagura Yama, Daikoku Yama, and Ebisu Yama. This prompted the 10 towns to further elaborate their float decorations, developing them into the magnificent hon-yama floats adorned with karakuri dolls and intricate carvings. The "Hachiman-gu Go-sairei Gyouretsucho" (Record of the Procession for the Hachiman Shrine Festival) from 1798 lists nearly identical float names and compositions, suggesting that by the late 18th century, all the town floats were assembled and float festivals were actively held in the castle town.

The festival date has undergone changes. Originally held on the 15th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar, it was changed to May 15th after the Meiji calendar reform. Since 1995, it has been held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th, a practice that continues today. Regarding festival management, the "bancho-sei" system, where a rotating town took full responsibility for the festival, was in place until 1977. After its abolition, the festival has been led by the Ogaki Festival Yama Operating Committee, comprising the 10 former castle town neighborhoods and the shrine, along with the Ogaki Festival Preservation Society.

The Ogaki Festival faced significant challenges, losing many floats in the 1891 Nobi Earthquake and World War II. However, through restoration, replication, and purchases, reconstruction progressed, and in 2012, all 13 floats were assembled for the first time in 70 years. On March 2, 2015, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, becoming the 11th such designation in Gifu Prefecture, joining festivals like the Takayama Festival and Gujo Odori. Furthermore, on December 1, 2016, it was registered as a component of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals in Japan," marking the first UNESCO registration for a cultural property of Ogaki City.

Highlights

The Exquisite Art of Karakuri Dolls
Of the 10 hon-yama floats, eight, excluding the "gei-yama" floats of Funamachi and Temmamachi, are equipped with elaborate karakuri mechanical doll mechanisms. These karakuri dolls developed under the strong influence of float festivals in the Chukyo region centered on Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and perform elaborate routines accompanied by music inspired by Noh theater. The moment the karakuri dolls begin to move quietly, a hush falls over the spectators, followed by applause, evoking a deep appreciation for the high level of craftsmanship inherited from the Edo period.

The Dignity of the Three Domain-Bestowed Floats
Kagura Yama, Daikoku Yama, and Ebisu Yama are three floats bestowed by Lord Toda Ujiaki in 1679 and feature a simple, single-tier, open-air structure. Unlike the ornate hon-yama floats built by the townspeople, these three floats are called the "sanryo yama." Kagura Yama, always leading the procession, is also known as "Oharai Yama" (Purification Float). The coexistence of lord-bestowed and townspeople-created floats is extremely rare nationwide, and the sight of them together in one festival conveys both the dignity of the castle town of Ogaki and the refined taste of its townspeople, allowing observers to sense the weight of history.

The Fantastical World of Yomiya
On the evenings of both Shigaku (the first day) and Hongaku (the second day), lanterns on all the floats are simultaneously lit, and the floats gather in front of Hachiman Shrine for the Yomiya event. The highlight is the "Yama Mawashi," where pullers called "teko" tilt the floats forward and rotate them left and right. The sight of the floats, illuminated by the lantern light and moving dynamically in the darkness, possesses a beauty completely different from that of the daytime. After the Yomiya performances are conducted twice, each float is "Hikiwakare," returning to its respective neighborhood.

The Ancient Art of the Kagura Yama's Stick Puppets
On Kagura Yama, two dolls representing a shrine maiden and a mountain ascetic perform a dance using the "tsuegashira ningyo" technique, where performers directly manipulate the dolls from below the stage using rods. This type of puppet is well-known from the large mountains used in the Tenno Festival of Tsushima and Atsuta in the Owari region, which originated in the medieval period, but extant examples are extremely rare and precious. The shrine maiden rings a bell and performs quiet purification and cleansing dances, while the mountain ascetic scatters paper imitating hot spring flowers. This performance carries the meaning of warding off illness and disease, transmitting the primordial form of folk performing arts that have continued for over 350 years.

Children's Hand Dances on the Gei-yama Stage
The gei-yama floats of Funamachi and Temmamachi feature a roofed stage at the front, where, although children's Kabuki was once performed, children's hand dances are now presented. This stage format was influenced by the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, demonstrating how the Ogaki Festival incorporated elements of festival culture from surrounding regions while forming its own unique style. The sight of children in adorable costumes performing traditional hand dances symbolizes hope for the festival's future and warms the hearts of viewers.

The Tradition of Ebisu Yama's "Oatashi" Ceremony
After the conclusion of the Yomiya event on Hongaku day, only Ebisu Yama proceeds to Hachiman Shrine, where the "Oatashi" ceremony, the formal transfer of the deity's head to the neighborhood responsible for the following year, is performed following ancient protocols. A legend states that the Ebisu deity image was created by the famous sculptor Hidari Jingoro, and when paint peeled off and a painter touched its face, fire is said to have shot from its mouth. The solemn scene of transferring the sacred "head" tells the story of the region's strong will to continue the festival and its deep faith, and this transfer method is extremely rare and not seen with the other two sanryo yama floats.

Event Information and Access

• Dates: Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Reiwa 8); generally held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th each year.
  • Shigaku (First Day): Saturday, May 9
  • Hongaku (Second Day): Sunday, May 10
• Times: Shigaku from 8:15 AM, Hongaku from 8:30 AM (Yomiya evening events from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on both days)
• Venue: Ogaki Hachiman Shrine (1-1 Nishi-sotogawa-cho, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture) and the area within the former castle town
• Access (Public Transport): Approximately 15-minute walk from "Ogaki Station" on the JR Tokaido Main Line, Yoro Railway, and Tarumi Railway
• Access (Car): From the "Ogaki IC" or "Ogaki-Nishi IC" on the Meishin Expressway, take National Route 258
• Parking: Temporary parking available (at Ogaki City Public Wholesale Market and other locations); shuttle buses operate on the festival days
• Inquiries: Ogaki Festival Executive Committee (at Ogaki Tourism Association, TEL: 0584-77-1535)
• Note: Please check the official websites (Ogaki Tourism Association "Suitorip" or Ogaki City official website) for the latest schedule and confirmation of implementation. The event is held rain or shine, but content may change in severe weather.

Surrounding Area Information

Ogaki Hachiman Shrine is located in Nishi-sotogawa-cho, Ogaki City, in a historically significant area adjacent to the castle grounds of Ogaki Castle. Ogaki Castle, rebuilt by Toda Ujiharu, is now maintained as Ogaki Castle Park, and the castle keep offers a panoramic view of Ogaki City and the Nobi Plain. The shrine grounds feature a plaza in front of the torii gate that serves as the stage for the festival's performances, usually presenting a quiet appearance but becoming enveloped in energetic excitement during the two festival days.

Ogaki City is known as the "City of Water." The Suimon River flows through the city center, and its willow-lined banks and stone bridges create a scenic landscape. Along this river is the "Musubi no Chi" (Place of Connection) associated with the poet Matsuo Basho, who composed the famous haiku "Musuborete aku tako no yume aki no tsuki" (Tangled, the octopus in its pot / dreams of a captive's autumn moon). A stroll along this waterside path between festival events allows visitors to more deeply appreciate the history and culture of the castle town.

Furthermore, shopping streets extending from Ogaki Station and Ogaki Ekidori Avenue host various food stalls and events during the festival period. Visitors can enjoy local specialties such as sake made with Ogaki's renowned water, "keichan" (grilled chicken on a hot plate), and "shigure-ni" (simmered fish or meat). A sightseeing plan combining a visit to the Ogaki Festival with a stroll through the castle town and enjoyment of local cuisine is highly recommended.

Related Information

• National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property: Designated on March 2, 2015, as "Ogaki Matsuri no Yama Gyoji"
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals in Japan": Registered on December 1, 2016 (a group comprising 33 float festivals, including Ogaki Festival)
• Preservation Organization: Ogaki Festival Preservation Society (in cooperation with the Ogaki Festival Yama Operating Committee)
• Details of the 13 Floats: 10 hon-yama floats (from the towns of Honmachi, Nakamachi, Shinmachi, Uoyamachi, Takeshimacho, Tawaramachi, Funamachi, Temmamachi, Gifumachi, and Miyamachi) + 3 sanryo-yama floats (Kagura Yama, Daikoku Yama, Ebisu Yama)
• Other Related Festivals: In the Seino region, there are festivals influenced by the Ogaki Festival, such as the Ayano Festival (Ayano-cho, Ogaki City) and the Kusegawa Festival (Kusegawa-cho, Ogaki City), whose float forms and performances strongly reflect the Ogaki style
• Historical Document: The "Hachiman-gu Go-sairei Gyouretsucho" from 1798 is a valuable historical record detailing the composition of floats at that time
• Host Shrine: Ogaki Hachiman Shrine (1-1 Nishi-sotogawa-cho, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, TEL: 0584-78-4977)
• Official Portal: The Ogaki Tourism Association's "Suitorip" website (https://www.ogakikanko.jp/ogaki-fes/) publishes the latest information

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