[30 minutes from Nagoya] UNESCO Heritage! Gifu's Ogaki Festival: Highlights & Access Guide

2026.08.27

The Ogaki Festival, held in May in Ogaki City , Gifu Gifu Prefecture , just 30 minutes from Nagoya , is a traditional festival registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The sight of 13 brightly colored floats parading through the castle town is truly spectacular! This article will provide a detailed introduction to the history, highlights, and access information for the Ogaki Festival.

• Table of Contents
• What is Ogaki Festival, the representative festival of the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture?
• [Shigaku(Saturday)] Don't miss the Kakegei taking place in front of the city hall!
• [Hongaku(Sunday)] 13 floats parade through the castle town.
• schedule
• Access information
• summary

What is Ogaki Festival, the representative festival of the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture?

The Ogaki Festival is held every year on a weekend in mid-May, centered around Ogaki Hachiman Shrine.

This festival is unique in Japan for its rare form in which floats bestowed by the lord of the Ogaki domain and floats made by the townspeople coexist, and for its fusion of Eastern and Western festival cultures, such as the mechanical puppet performances of Eastern Japan and the dances of Western Japan.

In 2015, it was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and in 2016 it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The rows of stalls number around 400, the largest number in the Tokai region, and the lively atmosphere, enjoyed by children and adults from the local area, has become a harbinger of early summer in the castle town of Ogaki.

[Shigaku(Saturday)] Don't miss the Kakegei taking place in front of the city hall!

The highlight of the first day is the performance of the Kakegei in front of Ogaki City Hall. This originated from the fact that the lord of Ogaki Domain used to watch the Kakegei in the castle, but now the mayor watches that role.

There are seats available for spectators, so you can sit and enjoy the mechanical performances and festival music of each float. Each float has its own elaborate performance, so it's recommended to compare them while watching.

Night Palace is also a must-see!

At night, floats adorned with lanterns parade in front of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine in the "Yomiya" festival. The sight of them all lit up at once at 7pm is fantastical, enveloping the castle town in a warm glow.

[Hongaku(Sunday)] 13 floats parade through the castle town.

On the second day, the Hongaku, 13 floats perform a ceremonial dance in front of the Ogaki Yawata Shrine before parading through the castle town, which is bathed in fresh greenery. The parade route alternates between the east and west every other year, covering approximately 8.8 km, with the excitement of the floats and spectators enveloping the entire town.

At night, the "Yomiya" festival is held again, allowing you to enjoy a fantastical atmosphere that is different from the daytime.

schedule

Shigaku(Saturday)

time	place	Content
8:15 - 8:30	In front of Ogaki Yawata Shrine	Shinto ritual: Prayers are offered for the safety of the festival.
8:30 - 10:35	In front of Ogaki Yawata Shrine	Performance: Each float takes turns offering performances such as mechanical devices and dances.
9:30 - 12:00	In front of Ogaki City Hall	Kakegei: Each float takes turns showcasing its own performance, such as mechanical devices or dances.
12:00 - 18:00	The entire area surrounding the city	Each float will parade freely throughout the city.
19:00 - 21:00	In front of Ogaki Yawata Shrine	Evening Festival: At 7:00 PM, all the floats light their lanterns simultaneously. After performances and float rotations in front of Ogaki Yawata Shrine, the first day concludes.

Hongaku(Sunday)

Time	place	Content
8:30 - 10:35	In front of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine	Performance: Each float takes turns performing tricks, dances, and other performances.
10:35 - 16:00	Around the city	Demoto Procession: 13 floats parade together through the castle town, covered in fresh greenery. The route alternates between east and west each year, covering a distance of 2.2 ri (approximately 8.8 km).
16:30 - 17:20	Shin-Ohashi Intersection ~ Ogaki Hachiman Shrine	Ogaki Festival Procession: The Ogaki Festival Procession will be held with a portable shrine and 13 floats.
19:00 - 21:00	In front of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine	Night Festival: At 7:00 PM, the lanterns of each float are lit all at once. In front of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine, the floats are spun around and the procession is farewelled.

*Please note that times are subject to change. For details, please check our website or other sources.

Homepage (Ogaki Festival)

Access information

Ogaki Hachiman Shrine, the center of the Ogaki Festival, is a 10-minute walk from JR Ogaki Station and is easily accessible by public transportation.

From Nagoya Station, take the JR Tokaido Main Line; it's about a 30-minute direct ride.

We also have a free temporary parking lot available for those arriving by car. Please use the free shuttle bus from the temporary parking lot.

summary

At the Ogaki Festival, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of a castle town and the bustle of early summer.

Please come and experience the spring in Ogaki, a city steeped in history and tradition.

For more information, please visit the official Ogaki Tourism Association website.