Najio Danjiri Festival

The Najio neighborhood of Nishinomiya City has eight town wards, each with its own danjiri (festival float). Every October, the floats are pulled through town for the autumn festival at Najio Hachiman Shrine. Najio prospered from traditional papermaking starting in the Edo period, and that prosperity is said to have allowed the area to acquire all eight danjiri floats by the early Meiji era. Each town has taken pride in its own float ever since — a friendly rivalry that has helped keep all eight floats in use to this day.

The Eight Town Floats

Kita-no-chō (北之町): Known for climbing a steep slope during the procession. Its float curtain was fully restored in 2023.
Nishi-no-chō (西之町): Restored in 2021 with support from the Agency for Cultural Affairs; known for its vivid carvings.
Naka-no-chō (中之町): Known for "maimai," a distinctive cornering technique unique to Najio. Underwent a major restoration in 2014.
Higashi-no-chō (東之町): The float most closely associated with the shrine itself. An Osaka-style, three-panel float known for carrying many children.
Kinomoto-chō (木之元町): Known for its matching happi coats and its distinctive calls and music.
Ōnishi-chō (大西町): Built in 1995; about 4 meters long and 3 tons. Notable for its gold decorative fittings.
Minami-no-chō (南之町): A slightly smaller float suited to its narrow streets; known for the fine tone of its bells and drums.
Yama-no-chō (山之町): The only float built in the Takarazuka style rather than the Osaka style; it carries a hand bell instead of a disc-shaped gong.

Festival Schedule

Held on the third Saturday (yoimiya, the eve festival) and Sunday (honmiya, the main festival) of October each year.

2023: Yoimiya Oct 14 / Honmiya Oct 15
2024: Yoimiya Oct 19 / Honmiya Oct 20
2025: Yoimiya Oct 18 / Honmiya Oct 19
2026: Yoimiya Oct 17 / Honmiya Oct 18
2027: Yoimiya Oct 16 / Honmiya Oct 17
2028: Yoimiya Oct 14 / Honmiya Oct 15

Najio Hachiman Shrine

The date of the shrine's founding is unknown, but it is said to have been established between 1469 and 1487, when the Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto was invited to the site. The enshrined deities are Emperor Ōjin and a divided spirit of Ise Grand Shrine. The danjiri tradition is said to have begun in 1868, when a float was first pulled through town to celebrate the enthronement of Emperor Meiji.

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Compiled from a poster produced by the Najio neighborhood association and youth association, along with public local-history sources.