Reference photo of a procession at the Autumn Grand Festival
Following the Onabare Procession and Dedication Dances at Sugimoto Shrine’s Autumn Grand Festival
Sugimoto Shrine in Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture, will hold its Autumn Grand Festival on November 23, 2026. The day’s events include the Onabare procession, passed down for generations, a replica of a portable shrine, and dedication dances at the otabisho (temporary shrine). Follow the schedule of ceremonies planned at the shrine and along the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment.
- Venue
- Sugimoto Shrine, Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture
- Admission & participation
- Please check official announcements for admission requirements.
HIGHLIGHTS
Event highlights
A traditional procession and a replica of a portable shrine
Sugimoto Shrine, affectionately known as “Oguni-sama,” holds grand festivals in spring and autumn. At the Autumn Grand Festival, a classical picture scroll is brought to life through events including the Onabare procession, a tradition passed down for generations by people in the Ino district. Knowing the name of this local procession can help you follow the festival and appreciate it as a custom handed down in the area.
The day’s schedule lists the Grand Festival ceremony at 12:30, the sacred procession departing from the shrine at 13:10, the sacred procession ceremony at the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment at 14:00, and the return ceremony at 16:00. These scheduled milestones can help you plan whether to attend the ceremony at the shrine or focus on the procession’s departure and the event at the embankment. Sugimoto Shrine, the stated festival venue, and the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment, where the sacred procession ceremony is scheduled, are separate locations, so be sure to distinguish between them.
The festival also features a replica of the octagonal lacquered portable shrine, an Important Cultural Property made in the Kamakura period. Keep in mind that it is the replica, not the cultural property itself, that will be displayed, and look for the octagonal shape and lacquer finish described in its name. Along with the Onabare procession, it is one of the specific highlights mentioned in the festival information.
Dedication dances at the otabisho and the day’s schedule
At the otabisho, the Asahi Dance, Otome Dance, Urayasu Dance, and lion dance are dedicated. Each performance is listed by name, so you can follow the festival’s program with an eye not only to the procession but also to the dances and lion dance. The procession and the dedications offer different kinds of highlights and opportunities to see the various parts of a long-standing local tradition.
The schedule begins with the Grand Festival ceremony at 12:30, followed by the sacred procession’s departure from the shrine at 13:10. The sacred procession ceremony is scheduled for 14:00 at the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment, followed by the return ceremony at 16:00. Deciding which of these milestones to use as your main reference can help you choose what to see if your visit is short. No individual times are given for the dedication dances, so take care not to confuse them with the scheduled ceremony times when planning to see a performance.
Sugimoto Shrine is a 15-minute walk from Ino Station on the JR Dosan Line, or you can take a bus and get off at Okunisama-mae. This is directions to the shrine; no route or travel time to the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment is provided. Consider whether you want to focus on the ceremony and departure at the shrine or the sacred procession ceremony at the embankment, and check the plans for each location separately.
EVENT INFORMATION
Dates & participation
Official title椙本神社 秋大祭
| Dates | 2026-11-23 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sugimoto Shrine, Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture |
| Admission and participation | Check the official information |
| Address |
- Organiser
- いの大国さま 椙本神社
Hours, admission rules, and ticket availability are subject to change. Please check the official website before heading out.
ACCESS
How to get there
Step-by-step guide
Plan around the times and locations
- 01
Choose which milestone to see
The Grand Festival ceremony is at 12:30, and the sacred procession departs from the shrine at 13:10. Decide which time to use as your guide.
- 02
Check the schedule for each location
The sacred procession ceremony is scheduled for 14:00 at the Niyodo River Cherry Blossom Embankment, and the return ceremony for 16:00. Note that the embankment is a separate location from Sugimoto Shrine.
- 03
Choose how to get to Sugimoto Shrine
You can walk 15 minutes from Ino Station on the JR Dosan Line, or take a bus and get off at Okunisama-mae.
Detailed access info
A 15-minute walk from Ino Station on the JR Dosan Line, or get off the bus at Okunisama-mae.
Sugimoto Shrine, Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture
Google Maps search result for the venue name. Please also check official sources for the address, specific hall/room, and entrance location.