Himeji Fall Festival Trial Package Tour 2024

In October、 various local districts in Himeji host lavish and flamboyant Fall festivals.

On this package tour, you will have the opportunity to learn and explore two of these traditional Fall festivals.

You will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of:

1) The Nada Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fighting Festival) featuring ceremonial “battles” between massively ornate 2.5 ton Japanese “yatai” (a type of portable shrine), carried by sweating, fundoshi-clad locals.

2) The Oshio Fall Festival featuring the traditional Lion Dance, in which a man dressed in a lavishly decorated 20kg mythological lion costume does an acrobatic dance dating back to the Kamakura period.

The tour will be guided by a local Himeji resident and an great lover of its unique Fall festivals

Let’s enjoy the Himeji Fall festivals together while we eat the great street food and watch the dramatic displays of celebration.

[DATE AND TIME]
October 14, 2024 (Monday)

3:45 PM to about 9:30 PM

*Except in the event of unforeseen weather

Tour takes place on festival eve (festival day one), and not on the main day (festival main day two)

[MEETING/DEPARTING LOCATION]

3:40 PM meetup at Sanyo Department Store 1F (in front of Manneken Waffle)

9:30 PM return to  Sanyo Himeji station

*There may be changes depending on weather conditions)

[PARTICIPATION FEE]

Special trial tour price is 5,500 JPY per person (including tax, but transportation and food not included)

*No use of grandstand

[REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION]

1. Grant permission of photographs for advertising purposes
2. Agree to fill out a questionnaire

[NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS]
6 people (Decided by lottery in the event of too many applicants)

[CLOTHING AND ITEMS TO BRING]
Comfortable clothing and shoes, drinks, sunscreen, and heat protection (hat, sun umbrella or towel, etc) 

[HOW TO REGISTER]

Please send the following to info@himeji588.com  by 06OCT

1.   Name
2.   Address
3.   Mail address
4.   Nationality
5.   Age
6.   Phone number (for Whatsapp)

*we will announce the lottery results by 07OCT.

[PARTICIPATION NOT ADVISED FOR THE FOLLOWING]

– Frail or disabled individuals

– Individuals 70 years of age or older

– Children under 12

[IMPORTANT NOTES]

・   This tour is not confirmed until you are contacted by the tour guide.

・   Tour subject to changes based on weather conditions.

・   Please wear comfortable shoes, clothing, and light baggage. 

・   Participants need plenty of endurance and energy because the festivals are very crowded, and in particular, the areas around the portable shrines can become incredibly packed.  

・   All restaurants are closed on the festival days, so we will spend a lot of time walking.

・   You cannot buy seats in the grandstand.

・   If you are carrying backpacks or suitcases, please leave them at the inn or in a locker before our meetup time.

・ In the event that festival start or end times change, we may return to Himeji later than expected.