Sunari Festival
wpmaster【Kanie Town】
Dates: First Saturday of August (evening festival) and the following Sunday (morning festival)
The Sunari Festival is held as a festival for the two shrines, Tomiyoshi Takehaya Shrine and Hachikensha Shrine, the guardian deities of the Sunari district, to pray for the elimination of summer epidemics and a bountiful harvest. Said to have a history of over 400 years, it was designated a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2012 and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. The highlights of the festival are the "Yoi Matsuri" and "Morning Festival," which take place on the first Saturday and the following Sunday in August. During the Yoi Matsuri, straw boats adorned with lanterns float up the Kanie River, while during the Morning Festival, floats carrying dolls float up the Kanie River accompanied by musical accompaniment, creating an elegant and mystical sight. The sight of the reed bridge being raised to allow the festival boats to pass is a highlight unique to river festivals.
Festival Overview
| Date | Every year on the first Saturday of August (evening festival) and the following Sunday (morning festival) |
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| Event time | Evening Festival: 19:30-21:30 Morning Festival: 9:00-12:00 |
| Venue | Tomiyoshi Takehaya Shrine and Yatsururugi Shrine (1363 Kadoyashikikami, Oaza Sunari, Kanie Town, Kaifu District) |
| parking | Yes (approximately 300 units) |
| telephone number | 0567-95-3812 (Cultural Assets Protection Section, Lifelong Learning Division, Kanie Town Board of Education (Kanie Town History and Folklore Museum)) 0567-95-1111 (Kanie Town Tourism Association) |
| number of floats | 1 |
Access / Map
| Access by train | 10 minutes walk from Kanie Station on the JR Kansai Line 25 minutes walk from Kintetsu Kanie Station (A free shuttle bus is available from Kintetsu Kanie Station on the day of the Yoi Matsuri festival.) |
|---|---|
| Access by car | Approximately 3 minutes from the Kanie exit on the Tomei-Meihan Expressway |
