Tsushima Tenno Festival: The Greatest Summer Festival of Owari with Lantern Boats

Countless lantern lights flicker and reflect on the river surface at night — the evening festival of the Tsushima Tenno Festival is filled with a fantastical beauty that takes your breath away. Boasting a history of more than 400 years and once praised as a "wondrous festival under heaven," it is the festival of Tsushima Shrine and is counted as one of Japan's three great river festivals. The sight of makiwara boats clad in lanterns quietly advancing along the Tenno River, which flows through Tsushima City in Aichi Prefecture, is as beautiful as a summer night's dream.

Tsushima Shrine and the History of the Festival

The Tsushima Tenno Festival is the festival of Tsushima Shrine, the head shrine of the roughly 3,000 shrines of Tenno faith throughout Japan. Its history is old, said to continue for more than 500 years, and Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi are said to have protected it. At the root of the festival is faith in Gozu Tenno, who quells epidemics, and the wish of the people for good health has been handed down to the present. The solemn rites, refined over a long history, are designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

The Spectacular Evening Festival Lit by Lanterns

The greatest highlight of the festival is the "makiwara boats" on the night of the evening festival. About 500 lanterns are lit on a semicircular framework, and five makiwara boats row out slowly onto the Tenno River. Countless lantern lights reflected on the dark water flicker, and a fantastical scene unfolds in which the lights and the water become one. Amid the sound of festival music, the beauty of what looks like a mountain of light advancing over the water stirs an emotion you will never forget.

Highlights of the Morning Festival and the Danjiri Boats

The morning festival held the day after the evening festival is also well worth seeing. With their lanterns removed, the makiwara boats transform into gorgeous "danjiri boats" decorated with Noh figures and more, advancing in the light of day. There is also a spirited rite in which young men who have leapt into the river swim while holding up halberds, filling the scene with a vigor in contrast to the evening festival. Being able to enjoy two different faces, day and night, is an appeal unique to the Tsushima Tenno Festival.

Tsushima Shrine

Tsushima Shrine, the venue for the festival, enshrines "Tsushima Gozu Tenno" and is the head shrine for all Tsushima and Tenno shrines nationwide, known as a deity protecting against epidemic diseases.

Best Season and Access

The Tsushima Tenno Festival usually holds its evening festival on the fourth Saturday of July and its morning festival the following Sunday. If you want to enjoy the fantastical scene of the lanterns, the night of the evening festival is recommended. For access, it is about a 15-minute walk from Tsushima Station on the Meitetsu Tsushima Line to the venue, Tenno River Park. It is close to Nagoya and easy to visit even on a day trip. As this is a summer night festival, take measures against the heat. Do experience the fantastical beauty of this historic river festival up close.

Practical Information (2026 record)

• Dates: Evening festival Saturday, July 25, 2026; morning festival Sunday, July 26, 2026. The dates are fixed as "the fourth Saturday of July and the following day"
• Start times: Evening festival from 18:00 / morning festival from 9:10
• Venue: Tsushima Shrine and Tenno River Park (Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture)
• Nearest station: About 15 minutes (about 1 km) from Meitetsu Tsushima Station. About 24 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Tsushima Station. If using JR or Kintetsu, transfer at Yatomi Station to the Meitetsu Bisai Line, about 11 minutes. By car, about 15 minutes north on National Route 155 from Yatomi IC on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway, or about 30 minutes south on National Route 155 from Ichinomiya-Inazawa-kita IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway
• Parking: The Tenno River Park car park cannot be used on the day of the evening festival (July 25) from 8:00 to 23:00. On the evening festival day, eight temporary car parks open (closed at night) — P1 Tsushima Municipal Nishi Elementary School from 13:00 / P2 Tsushima Municipal Minami Elementary School from 17:00 / P3 Tsushima City Library from 16:00 / P4 JA Aichi Ama Green Center from 17:00 / P5 Tsushima City Cultural Hall from 17:00 / P6 Aichi Prefecture Ama General Government Building from 18:00 / P7 Tsushima City Hall from 18:00 / P8 Tsushima Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 18:00
• Traffic restrictions: On Saturday, July 25, from 15:00 to 18:00, the road on the east side of Tenno River Park becomes one-way northbound
• Paid viewing seats (yakata sajiki): Set up on the northeast side of Maruike, these are sold by block, on which a roofed structure 3.6 m wide by 2.7 m deep may be erected. Special class 60,000 yen / 1st class 48,000 yen / 2nd class 40,500 yen / 3rd class 33,000 yen, plus 8,000 yen per electric light (lanterns must be prepared by the user). Sales begin Monday, May 18 from 9:30, and the lottery for positions is Tuesday, June 2 from 10:00 at the Tsushima Shrine office
• In case of rain: Held in light rain
• Note on crowds: The official guidance also states, "Congestion is expected. Please use public transport"

*Food stalls and toilets have not been officially announced. The overall traffic restriction map is published in an official PDF.*

📚 Sources

• Tsushima City Tourism Association
• Tsushima City official website
• Tenno River Park official website