・Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Matsubara Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival)

Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Matsubara Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival) is an autumn tradition in the Banshu area of Hyogo Prefecture. Usually held for two days on October 14 and 15, it is one of the largest festivals in the region, attracting more than 100,000 people.

During “Yoimiya” on October 14, floats from the former seven villages in the Nada area parade through their respective local villages and enter Matsubara Hachiman Shrine one after another from around 11:00. After the procession, the grand stalls of each village will compete vigorously in a procession in the precincts of the shrine and in the square in front of the tower gate until sunset.

On the 15th, the “Honmiya,” after the yatai of the six villages (excluding the parade floats*) enter Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, the parade floats of Ichinomaru, Ninomaru, and Sanomaru (Nakamura area in 2025) with their mikoshi banners will finally enter the shrine. The three portable shrines are then paraded out of the hall of worship and violently collide with each other within the shrine grounds. The stage is then moved to Mt. Otabiyama, and the portable shrines are bumped against each other and the parade of stalls is also held in Hirohata at the foot of the mountain.

*Neriban means the parade guard, the village in charge of leading the mikoshi procession. The duty rotates among the seven villages from year to year.

If you want to watch the mikoshi parade in detail, the best place to do so is on the way up to the top of Mt. The arrival at the gate of the Yoimiya shrine is especially energetic, and the sight of the men parading their stalls together with an outpouring of joy after waiting a year for the event is a powerful sight to behold.

There are various theories as to the origin of the name “Kenka (Fighting) Matsuri (Festival),” but it is said that when the portable shrines are crashed together, it looks as if the villagers carrying them are fighting. Enjoy the energy of this autumn festival, filled with lively and spirited shouts!

Festival Food

The standard food at the Nada no Kenka Matsuri includes “Konoshiro Sushi,” shako (also called shaku by locals), and blue crab. However, “konoshiro-zushi” is made by each family, so it is rare for the general public to have a chance to eat it, and since shako and crab are sold at high prices, they are hard to come by.

The festival gourmet recommended by the locals is amazake (sweet sake) from Komatsuya, a long-established shop in front of the Matsubara yatai warehouse. It is said that men enjoy amazake on the day of the festival, and is known locally as “Komaccha”. Be sure to try their signature miso dengaku as well!

■Date
Tuesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 15, 2025

■Place
Matsubara Hachiman Shrine MAP

■Access
5-minute walk from Shirahama-no-miya Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway. Please come by public transportation.

*There is no official website for Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. Please beware of similar sites.