Each summer Shiki City have five traditional summer festivals as well as other festivals collectively known as Shiki Summer Festivals, with a 100 plus year history. This year the first two are on earlier than ever, in June. The bank holiday weekend of the festivals is the main celebration and attracts thousands of spectators each year.
Shiki Summer Festivals
Each of the below festivals, collectively known as Shiki Summer festivals, are on in July each year:
① Day 1 of the Shiki Summer Festival 「宿組八坂神社 祭礼」
The first day of the festival is held at Tenjin (Ten) Shrine (view on Google Maps), but it is called the Shukugumi Yasaka Shrine Festival 「宿組八坂神社 祭礼」. For years it was held early in July, but in 2026 as in 2025 it will be held in June. In 2026 it is on Sunday June 21st from around 2 pm to 9 pm. The highlight is the mikoshi (portable shrine) parade, which is usually from around 7 pm. There is also a children’s mikoshi.
② Shiki City Folks Art Festival
The Shiki City Folk Arts Festival is on three days in 2026, in two different locations. The first day is at the Muneoka Ground, at Shiki City Hall, on Sunday June 21st. Day 2 & 3 of the Shiki City Folk Arts Festival are on the same dates of Shikishima Shrine Festival, on July 18th and 19th, from 2 pm to 9 pm. at the Shiki Ground, which is at the east exit of Shiki Station.
③ Day 2 of the Shiki Summer Festival 「下ノ宮八坂神社祭礼」
The second day of the festival is on in the vicinity of Shimono Hikawa Shrine (view on Google Maps). However, the festival is called Shimonomiya Yasaka Shrine Festival 「下ノ宮八坂神社祭礼」. This festival is held in mid July annually. In 2026, it is on Saturday July 11th from 2 pm to 8 pm. The highlight of day 2 is the portable shrine and the folk song performances. There is a children’s ‘mikoshi’ portable shrine at this festival too.
④ Day 3 「産財八坂神社夏祭り」
Day 3 of the festival is on Sunday July 12th 2026. Like day 2, the Sanzai Yasaka Festival 「産財八坂神社夏祭り」 is also held around Shimono Hikawa Shrine. The festival starts in the afternoon around 3.30 pm. However, the main attractions are at night. Generally in and around Muneoka Elementary school from about 7 pm to 8.30 pm. The highlight here is also the festival shrine “mikoshi”. There is a children’s mikoshi too.
⑤ Day 4 and 5 「敷島神社祭典」
Day 4 and 5 are the main weekend of the festival. In 2026, the dates are Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th. It is the festival of the formidable Shikishima Shrine (view on Google maps). On the grounds of Shikishima Shrine there is an impressive Fujizuka, aka a mini Mt Fuji with a shrine on top. Generally, the pedestrianize the main thoroughfare that leads to the shrine from Shiki Station for the event. Moreover, it is lined with festival stalls. The mikoshi is the highlight of the festival on both days.
⑥ Shiki Aloha Shopping Association Summer Festival
In 2026, the Shiki Aloha Shopping Association Summer Festival is on the same dates as both ⑤ and ⑥. On Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th. On Saturday it is on from 6 pm to 9.30 pm and on Sunday it is on from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.
⑦ Nagashi Folk Dance
In addition to the five outlined above, there are three other summer festivals in Shiki in July 2026. One of them is the Shiki City Folk Arts Festival that is mentioned above. Furthermore, on Saturday July 18th you can enjoy 52nd annual Nagashi Folk Dance at Honcho from 7.30 pm to 9 pm. The event will not be on if the weather is bad.
⑧ Shiki New Town Mori no Matsuri
On Saturday September 26th from 1 pm to 6 pm. New to the list in 2026. This community event takes place at Tate Kinrin Park in Shiki, in the park’s leafy surroundings and offers visitors a chance to enjoy a lively local atmosphere while connecting with the neighborhood. It is more of a community event than a traditional festival, but is a popular seasonal gathering for residents and visitors alike, celebrating community spirit in the heart of Shiki New Town.
Information
Event: Shiki Summer Festivals 志木夏祭り
Date: June 21st, July 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th and September 26th 2026
Time: various, as outlined per festival above
Cost: there is no admission free
Venue: the main weekend the festival area stretches from Shiki Station to Shikishima Shrine. Festival area map from Shiki City.
Access
Each of the festivals are accessible from Shiki Station. The main weekend of the festivals is within walking distance of the station. If you are a good walker, most of the festivals are a manageable distance on foot. However, Shimono Hikawa Shrine (Day 2) is about a 40 minute walk from Shiki Station. The rest of the shrines are relatively near Shiki City hall, so you could also get a bus to city hall and walk the rest of the way. However, please note, that particularly on the main weekend, there will be disruptions to traffic and public transport. Moreover, you are not allowed park at the City Hall when the festivals are on.
Editor’s note: this event was cancelled between 2020 and 2022.
Feature photo by Mayumoru on AC photo.