Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri Festival 2026 (Nara)

The Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri is the festival of Wakamiya, a subsidiary shrine of Kasuga Taisha in Nara. It is said to have been started in 1136 by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi to pray for good harvests and peace, and it is still held every December as the last big event of Nara’s year.

The key day is December 17. At midnight, in the “Sengyo no Gi” ritual, the deity is carried in darkness along the unlit approach to a temporary shrine called the Otabisho. At noon the Owatari-shiki procession sets off: around a thousand participants and about 50 horses, dressed in styles from the Heian to the Edo periods, walk through central Nara past both main stations. From the afternoon into the night, ancient performing arts such as kagura (sacred dance), dengaku and bugaku (court dance) are offered at the Otabisho. The procession and the performances are designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

In 2026 the festival runs from Tuesday, December 15, to Friday, December 18. The procession passes in front of both JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara stations, so it is easy to see on a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Nights in mid-December are cold, so dress warmly if you plan to stay for the evening performances. Check the official site for the route and times.