🏮 Shinkawa Ichi Matsuri

新川市まつり

Ube, Yamaguchi (常盤通り（国道190号特設ゾーン）) · Every year, 3–5 May

Bon odori

231 days to go
Rooms around Ube, Yamaguchi fill up while the festival is on.

The Shinkawaichi Festival is held in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, every year from May 3 to 5. It originated as a barter market for seafood and agricultural produce that began around 1798 (Kansei 10) near Nakatsuse Shrine. Nakatsuse Shrine was founded to celebrate the opening of the Shinkawa (present-day Majikawa) river, which was dug to prevent flooding, and to pray for the development of local commerce. The "Uma-gae" lottery, started by the local shopping street association in 1919 (Taisho 8), continues today as the "Uma-gae Grand Lottery" run by the Shintencho Meitengai (Humming Road Shintencho). During the festival, besides the lottery, there are various events such as the "Ube Kitsune no Yomeiri Gyoretsu," a public wedding ceremony performed by citizens chosen through an open call, and "Golden Legend 22 Yosakoi Festa 8 in Shinkawaichi Festival." The venue is a 5-minute walk from JR Ube-Shinkawa Station, or a 3-minute walk from the Ube City Hall bus stop. On the day, traffic restrictions are imposed on some roads in the central area, so using public transportation is convenient.