Toshogu Shrine hosts autumn festival on 16 and 17 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 17:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Toshogu Shrine and its Autumn Festival will bring two days of traditional ceremonies to Nikko, Japan, from 16 to 17 October 2026. The programme pairs horseback archery on 16 October with a large warrior procession on 17 October.
Toshogu Shrine's autumn festival brings archery and procession
The festival begins on Friday 16 October with yabusame, a form of mounted archery, on the Omotesando approach. The event information lists a ceremonial riders' procession at 1pm, followed by the archery at about 1.30pm.
On Saturday 17 October, the One Thousand Samurai Procession leaves the shrine precinct at about 11am. The procession travels along Omotesando to the otabisho, or temporary resting place, where a ceremony is scheduled for noon. A return procession is planned for about 1pm. The festival programme for 2026 identifies Toshogu Shrine as the venue and gives the 16 and 17 October dates.
The procession recreates the transfer of Tokugawa Ieyasu's spirit from Kunozan to Nikko. The listed programme also includes a food offering and traditional dances at the otabisho before the participants return towards the shrine.
Toshogu Shrine's history frames the October ceremonies
The shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. The custodian's history states that he was enshrined at the site in 1617, after his remains were moved from Kunozan.
Most of the present shrine buildings date from the rebuilding ordered by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, in 1636. The complex became part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Shrines and Temples of Nikko in 1999. That setting gives the October programme a direct connection with the history represented by the procession. The custodian's history of the shrine records the 1617 foundation, the 1636 rebuilding and the 1999 World Heritage registration.
The ceremonies also use the approach road and the otabisho rather than remaining inside a single hall. For visitors, the event therefore links the sanctuary's historic buildings with public routes through the surrounding part of Nikko.
Visiting Toshogu Shrine: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Autumn Festival takes place at Toshogu Shrine from 16 to 17 October 2026. Yabusame is planned for 16 October, while the One Thousand Samurai Procession is planned for 17 October.
- The published programme places the archery on Omotesando and the procession on the route from the shrine to the otabisho and back. The listed times are provisional, so the ceremony schedule may change.
- The venue is in Sannai, Nikko. From JR Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station, the Tochigi travel authority lists a World Heritage sightseeing bus to Shinkyo, followed by a walk to the shrine.
- The route includes an approach road and the shrine precinct, while the complex itself contains steps leading towards the inner sanctuary and Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb.
- Japan's official language is Japanese and its national currency is the yen. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Toshogu Shrine
When does the Autumn Festival take place at Toshogu Shrine?
The festival is scheduled for 16 and 17 October 2026. Yabusame is planned for 16 October and the One Thousand Samurai Procession for 17 October.
What is Toshogu Shrine?
It is a shrine in Nikko dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Its present buildings were largely rebuilt in 1636, and the site became part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Shrines and Temples of Nikko in 1999.
Where is Toshogu Shrine and how do you get there?
The shrine is in Sannai, Nikko, Japan. The published access information directs visitors from JR Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station by World Heritage sightseeing bus to Shinkyo, followed by a walk.
