Katori Jingu Jinkosai

Katori Jingu Jinkosai (Katori Jingu Shrine’s Shikinen Jinko Festival) is a massive celebration that occurs once every twelve years during the Year of the Horse. The Festival is said to be a reenactment of the parade held when the god enshrined at Katori Jingu Shrine, "Futsunushi no Okami", pacified the Eastern Nation "Togoku". A procession of about 3,000 shrine parishoners or "Ujiko" centered around an Omikoshi parade from Katori Jingu Shrine to central Sawara. Within the procession, Ujiko wear armor and other traditional outfits, and there are traditional music and dance performances by the Oranda Music Band and Lion Dancers. A colorful river boat climbs the Tone River, and this sight has captivated both locals and tourists alike.

April 15 (Wednesday):
8:30- Hatsuyosai Launch Ceremony (Katori Jingu Shrine)①
12:30- Boarding the Riverboat (Tsunomiya Torii)②
14:30- Welcoming the Riverboat by Kashima Jingu Shrine (Ushi-ga-Hana)③
15:30- Welcoming the Riverboat by Komikado Shrine (Sawara Riverbank)④
17:00- Celebration of the Omikoshi arriving at its destination (Sawara Shinyo Bank)⑤

April 16 (Thursday):
8:30- Celebration of the Omikoshi leaving its destination (Sawara Shinyo Bank)⑤
10:00- Welcoming the procession to Suwa Shrine (Suwa Shrine)⑥
11:30- Welcoming the procession to Yasaka Shrine (Yasaka Shrine)⑦
16:00- The procession ends at Katori Jingu Shrine (Katori Jingu Shrine)①

Via Narita Line to Sawara Station or Katori Station:
Katori Jingu Shrine: Disembark at Katori Station, 30 minutes walking distance (About 2 km)
Tsunomiya Torii: Disembark at Katori Station, 11 minutes walking distance (About 800m)
Sawara Tone Riverbank: Disembark at Sawara Station, 23 minutes walking distance (About 1.7 km)
Sawara Historical District: Disembark at Sawara Station, 12 minutes walking distance (About 900 m)

JR Temporary Express Line "Ayame (Katori Jingu Jinkosai)" will be running

April 15, 2026 only. For details on this line between Tokyo Station and Katori Station, please refer to JR's official website.

• 10 minutes from Sawara-Katori IC on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway

Tone Riverbank Temporary Parking lot (Location changes each day)
4/15: West Parking Lot, Free, Large Busses cannot park here
4/16: East Parking Lot, Free, Large Busses can park here

There are two direct highway busses from Tokyo Station to Sawara that leave from either "Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit" or "Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu" (About 85 minutes)

Keisei Bus Chiba East:
Choshi-Tokyo Line (Sawara Route, Omigawa Route)- You may disembark at Sawara Station North Exit（佐原駅北口）or the following station, Katori Shiyakusho-Mae（香取市役所前）

The Choshi-Tokyo Line leaves from "Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu" on the basement floor of the "Tokyo Midtown Yaesu" building. This building is across the street from the Yaesu South Exit of Tokyo Station. The bus generally departs from Gate 14, but there are often two busses that leave simeltaneously from Gate 14 so make sure that you are getting on the bus bound for Sawara/Choshi.

Kantetsu Bus :
Hokota-Tokyo Line- Disembark between Katori Jingu Shrine and Sawara Station