Full of energy! Feature Articles on the three major festivals in Matsusaka City Mie Prefecture

What are the three major festivals in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture ?

The three major festivals in Matsusaka City , Mie Prefecture are the Hatsuuma Festival (March), the Matsusaka Gion Festival (July), and the Ujisato Festival (November). Matsusaka City is actually a region with many festivals.

In addition to the three major festivals in Matsusaka City , we will introduce other noteworthy festivals in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture , which attract many visitors.

• Table of Contents
• March: Hatsuuma Festival
• Matsusaka Gion Festival held in July
• Ujisato Festival held in November
• Here are two other festivals worth checking out!
• Be sure to come and enjoy the lively festival in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture !

March: Hatsuuma Festival

The Hatsuuma Festival is held over two days at the beginning of March every year.

This is the largest festival held at Buddhist temples in the prefecture, and as an event to welcome spring to the region, the town bustles with men and women in their unlucky years and general visitors.

Stalls line the approach to the shrine and within the grounds, selling lucky toys such as "saruhajiki," which are said to ward off misfortune, and "nejiriokoshi," which are said to defeat misfortune. Visitors buy these toys and pray for safety in the year ahead.

[Location] Shopping district around Matsusaka Station, Okaderayama Keishoji Temple

[Event period] Saturday and Sunday closest to the first day of the horse in March

[Access] About 5 minutes walk from JR/Kintetsu "Matsusaka Station"

[Inquiries] Matsusaka Station Tourist Information Center TEL: 0598-23-7771

Okaderasan Keishoji Temple TEL: 0598-21-0965

Matsusaka Gion Festival held in July

The Matsusaka Gion Festival is held over two days every year in mid-July, with the grand festival taking place on Saturday as the evening festival and on Sunday as the main festival.

There are plenty of things to see, such as the "Sansha Mikoshi" and "Matsusaka Shongai Ondo and Dance," which will be introduced later, and many people participate, regardless of age or gender, and the town is filled with energy as people enjoy the long nights of the summer festival.

① Three shrines

The mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried out from the three shrines, Mikuriya Shrine, Yakumo, and Matsusaka Shrine, and paraded through the town chanting "Choseya!" The most impressive is the "nerikomi" that gathers at the intersection of the central shopping street on Saturday night! It is the climax of the Matsusaka Gion Festival.

*At the climax of the festival, the area around the central shopping district intersection will be extremely crowded, so if you are bringing small children, please be careful not to let them get lost.

2) Matsusaka Shongai Ondo and Dance

When Matsusaka Castle's lord, Gamou Ujisato, built Matsusaka Castle in 1588 (Tensho 16), he invited the craftsmen and farmers who had been involved in the construction into the castle to celebrate the completion of the castle, and held a banquet to thank them. It is said that the song originated from the farmers who participated in the banquet singing and dancing, and it has been designated as an intangible folk cultural property by Matsusaka City.

The word "shongai" is said to have originated from "shoganai" (can't be helped), which has become corrupted over the years. The ondo performers take turns singing old stories and topics from the past, including improvisations, with just one microphone, and are joined by the Hayashi and shime-daiko drums.

It is widely performed at events other than the Matsusaka Gion Festival, and has become a Matsusaka summer tradition that has continued for over 400 years, with leader and dancers enjoying the experience together.

Why not dance along and enjoy the Matsusaka Gion Festival even more?

3. Matsusaka Shogai Soran Festival

Matsusaka Shongai Soran was created by adding elements of Yosakoi Soran to the "Matsusaka Shongai Ondo and Dance" to make it familiar to the younger generation and children. The dance is set to songs such as "Come to Matsusaka ," which include lyrics about great people and local specialties associated with Matsusaka City .

Matsusaka Bell Dance

It is said to have been created to convey the achievements of Motoori Norinaga, a Japanese scholar from Matsusaka. Norinaga was fond of bells, so the dancers hold them in their hands or wear them around their bodies, dancing lightly to the sound of the bells ringing out.

[Location] Shopping district around Matsusaka Station

[Event period] Saturdays and Sundays in mid-July

[Access] Right in front of the south exit of JR/Kintetsu Matsusaka Station

[Inquiries] Matsusaka Station Tourist Information Center TEL: 0598-23-7771

Ujisato Festival held in November

About 400 years ago, Lord Gamo Ujisato became the first lord of Matsusaka Castle and is loved by the local people as a local hero who built the foundations of the commercial city of Matsusaka. After the war, the Ujisato Festival was started as a citizens' festival to honor Lord Ujisato.

The "Warrior Procession" centered around Lord Gamo Ujisato and Fuyuhime begins with a departure ceremony at the ruins of Matsusaka Castle, a nationally designated historic site, and goes around the castle guard house and the samurai residences of the former Doshincho. The procession of 200 people in total, including samurai dressed in armor, Ujisato's wife Fuyuhime, and a rifle corps, is an impressive sight! It is crowded with many spectators.

[Location] Matsusaka Castle ruins and downtown Matsusaka City

[Date] November 3rd (Culture Day)

[Access] Immediately after getting off at JR/Kintetsu Matsusaka Station

[Inquiries] Matsusaka Station Tourist Information Center TEL: 0598-23-7771

Here are two other festivals worth checking out!

①Morinaga Festival (April)

This festival honors Motoori Norinaga, a Japanese scholar born in Matsusaka who wrote works such as "Kojiki-den."

The main venue will be the ruins of Matsusaka Castle, and an elaborate event related to Norinaga will be held.

[Location] Matsusaka Castle Ruins (Matsusaka Park)

[Event period] Early April

[Access] About 15 minutes on foot from JR/Kintetsu Matsusaka Station

Take the Suzunone Bus or Mie Bus for about 5 minutes and get off at "City Hall" or "Citizens Hospital"

[Inquiries] Matsusaka Station Tourist Information Center TEL: 0598-23-7771

2) Matsusaka Beef Festival (November)

A festival filled with the charm of Matsusaka beef, known as a "work of art."

The main event of the festival is the Matsusaka Beef Cattle Show, where 50 head of "Specialty Matsusaka Beef" cattle, which have been carefully raised by skilled craftsmen and won preliminary competitions, will be on display.

There will also be a variety of other events, including the sale of local specialties from the Matsusaka beef producing area and the serving of sukiyaki made with Matsusaka beef!

At the auction that day, attention will be focused on the winning bid for the "Specialty Matsusaka Beef," which won first place in the Excellence Award.

[Location] Matsusaka Agricultural Park Bell Farm

[Event period] Late November

[Inquiries] Matsusaka Beef Festival Executive Committee TEL: 0598-53-4119

Be sure to come and enjoy the lively festival in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture !

There are many festivals in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture .

Did you find any festivals that caught your eye?

Please use this as a reference for your trip to Matsusaka!

Matsusaka City Tourism Information Site

Matsusaka City Tourism Information Official Instagram