The 76th Himeji Castle Festival will be held for three days from Friday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 24th!

Poster for the 76th Castle Festival **Event Dates** From Friday, May 22, 2026, to Sunday, May 24, 2026 **Venue** Around Himeji Castle (Otemae-dori Street, Otemae Park, Himeji Castle Sannomaru Square, etc.) **Highlights** To keep Himeji lively even after the World Expo, we are introducing new content not seen in previous years. Following the grand dance finale of the castle festival, there will be a 'Himeji de Bon Dance' mainly for the younger generation. The festival is packed with programs for all ages, including kitchen cars at Shiromidai Park, an industry-academia-government collaboration booth with university students at Otemae Park, and an exhibition and hands-on corner for working vehicles. One of the main attractions is the 'Himeji Daimyo Procession,' which recreates the feudal lord's procession using costumes and props produced based on historical research from materials like the 'Picture Scroll of Lord Kentokuin's Journey to Kyoto as the Shogun's Deputy' (owned by Himeji City). Please enjoy the historical procession that serves as the grand finale of the spectacular parade. This year's kids' event will be held for two days. Children can learn about the work of temple carpenters, which is related to the construction of Himeji Castle, while experiencing it alongside the floats of the Banshu Autumn Festival. **Friday, May 22, 2026: Traditional Culture Day** On the first day, Friday, May 22nd, the 55th Himeji Castle Takigi Noh (Noh by torchlight) will be held. An elegant and powerful stage will unfold with Himeji Castle as a backdrop. Poster for the 55th Himeji Castle Takigi Noh **Time** 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM ・From 5:00 PM: Himeji Castle Takigi Noh Parent-Child Classroom Presentation ・From 6:00 PM: 55th Himeji Castle Takigi Noh **Venue** Himeji Castle Sannomaru Square ※In case of rain, it will be held at the Himeji City Civic Hall Main Hall. **Organizer** Himeji Takigi Noh Support Association **Program** ・Noh 'Kochō' (Butterfly): Performers - Yasuhiro Urata, Tomonori Fukuo ・Kyogen 'Kitsunezuka' (The Fox Mound): Performer - Sengoro Shigeyama ・Noh 'Tenko' (The Heavenly Drum): Performers - Takahiro Ueda, Kinjiro Ezaki **Other** ・Live streaming of the performance ・Archives will be shared on social media ・Introduction of the 'Noh-Suppo' subtitle service for foreign visitors and inbound tourists (simultaneous support for 4 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean) **Saturday, May 23, 2026: Friendship Day** On the second day, Saturday, May 23rd, there will be parades and stage events. This year's parade starts at 'Himeji Castle Front' at the north end of Jonan-sen street. It will proceed south to the course ending at National Route 2 (Otemae Intersection). The Himeji Castle Ambassadors will appear as the 'Lord' in the Himeji Daimyo Procession and the 'Princess' in the Princess Sen's Bridal Procession, promoting the charm of Himeji to those outside the city. For inbound tourists, there will be English explanations of the processions and equipment to ensure that tourists from all over the world visiting Himeji can enjoy the event. Castle Parade Scene | Historical Experience Period Parade Scene | Princess Sen's Bridal Procession Scene | Himeji Daimyo Procession Scene **10:00 AM to 10:45 AM (approx.)** Himeji Castle Ambassador Presentation **10:45 AM to 11:20 AM (approx.)** Opening Ceremony **11:20 AM to 6:00 PM (approx.)** Otemae Park Stage Events **11:15 AM to 1:45 PM (approx.)** Castle Parade **1:45 PM to 2:25 PM (approx.)** Historical Experience Period Parade **2:25 PM to 2:35 PM (approx.)** Princess Sen's Bridal Procession **2:35 PM to 3:15 PM (approx.)** Himeji Daimyo Procession **So-odori (Grand Dance) (4:00 PM to 5:00 PM) ** Let's liven up the traditional grand dance, which has been passed down since the early days of the castle festival, together with the participating groups. Same-day participation is also very welcome. On-the-day registration is at the Karoyashiki-ato Park tent until 4:00 PM (walk-ins welcome). So-odori Scene **Himeji de Bon Dance (5:10 PM to 5:40 PM (planned)) ** For the first time, an event featuring music that can be enjoyed by all generations, from the latest hits to nostalgic songs, will be held on Otemae-dori Street! As a special stage, we will have the moving 'Aian 8-10,' a small version of Ichikawa Town. We will also welcome special guests DJ YAHAGI and MC GONZA for a program that even those who have never danced can enjoy. Participants and spectators should gather in front of the special stage at the north end of Otemae-dori Street by 5:00 PM! (Walk-ins are very welcome!) DJ YAHAGI | MC GONZA **Sunday, May 24, 2026: All Generation Day** On the third day, Sunday, May 24th, a kids' event and the Himeji Yosakoi Festival will be held. As a first attempt, the kids' event is scheduled to be held for two days, starting from 1:00 PM on the previous day, Saturday, the 23rd. **Kids' Event ** This year's theme is 'Banshu Takaramono PROJECT: Connecting Himeji's Smiles by Carrying.' A festival culture experience event hosted by the Junior Chamber International Himeji will be held. Take this opportunity to experience the festival culture of the Banshu region, with valuable experiences such as making float keychains where you can experience professional craftsmanship, and decorating and carrying a mini-sized float! Saturday, May 23rd: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM Sunday, May 24th: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Kids' Event 'Banshu Takaramono' Flyer **25th Himeji Yosakoi Festival ** Performers will showcase powerful performances they have practiced for this day. 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Organizer: Himeji Yosakoi Festival Executive Committee Will be held rain or shine. **Sound Festival 2026 ** Featuring reggae music and performances by local dancers. 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Organizer: Himeji Harmony **From Saturday, May 23rd to Sunday, May 24th** **Various Organization PR Booths ** Tourism PR booth, Harima region collaboration booth, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration SDGs booth, Hyogo Field Pavilion booth, Working Vehicles & Career Experience corner, Universal booth, Sports PR booth, Castle Garden Many other exhibitors are also planned! **Street Performers & Kitchen Cars ** Kitchen cars will gather at Shiromidai Park! A dining area is also planned. On Saturday the 23rd, street performers will entertain the visitors. On Sunday the 24th, dynamic performances by the Himeji Yosakoi Festival participating groups will be showcased with Himeji Castle in the background. Both days from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Organizer: Kitchen Car Association **Himeji Castle Festival Official Website**