Countries
【2026】Hojo Kashima Festival
3
May
Date
3 May (Sunday)
Time
Sun, May 3 – Mon, May 4
Venue
Kashima, Hojotsuji
Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
📝 Useful Information
The Hojo Kashima Festival is scheduled to take place from May 3rd to May 4th, 2026, on and around the coastal waters of Kashima Island in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. This traditional spring festival celebrates the legacy of the Kono Suigun, a powerful medieval naval force that once controlled the Seto Inland Sea.
Would you like more details on transportation options from central Matsuyama or recommendations for local specialty dishes like Hojo Tai-meshi to try during the festival?
Festival Highlights & Schedule
Key Activities
Visitor Information
•Kaineri Odori (Oar Dance): Designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Ehime, this dance features teenage boys balancing on boats and performing with oars as the vessels are towed through the water.
•Violent Mikoshi Rituals: Portable shrines (mikoshi) from Kashima Shrine are loaded onto boats and rocked vigorously by carriers until they occasionally capsize—a crowd-pleasing tradition meant to demonstrate divine power.
•Shimenawa Replacement: On the second day, you can watch from a special viewing boat (starting around 1:00 PM from Kashima Pier) as men attach a new giant rope to the sacred rocks to pray for maritime safety.
•Location: Kashima Island and Hojo Port (Kazahaya area), Matsuyama.
•Cost: Entry to the festival is Free, though the ferry to Kashima Island typically costs around 500 yen.
•Train: Take the JR Yosan Line to JR Iyo Hojo Station. From there, it is a short walk to the ferry terminal.
•Ferry: A frequent 3-minute boat ride connects the Hojo Kashima Park Ferry Terminal to the island.
•Amenities: The island features a deer park, a "Lover’s Sanctuary" observatory at the summit, and camping grounds.
Updated at 18 Mar 2026