Summary
- Traditional taiko drum festival schedule in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture
- Organized by three areas (Kawanishi, Kawahigashi, Jobu) and chronologically by date
- 48 events featuring up to 20 ornate taiko floats weighing 3 tons each
The Niihama Taiko Festival is one of Ehime Prefecture's premier autumn celebrations with over 300 years of history. Massive 3-ton ornate floats parade through the city with spirited chants.
This guide covers all 48 events from October 15-18, 2025, with times, locations, and taiko counts.
Events marked with ⭐︎ are "kakikurabe" (competitive performances) where multiple floats gather - the festival's highlights.
🔗 Related Articles
If you're interested in Ehime Prefecture's drum festivals, check out
📖 Saijo Festival Complete Schedule Guide - October 11-16, featuring up to 81 ornate danjiri floats, with the spectacular "Kawa-iri" river entry as the festival's highlight
📖 Mishima Kawanoe Taiko Festival Complete Schedule Guide - October 20-23, traditional festival in Shikokuchuo City featuring up to 12 taiko floats across three districts (Mishima, Toyooka, Sangawa)
📋 Complete Schedule (Chronological Order)
All 48 events organized chronologically by date, allowing you to see the festival flow across all areas.
October 15 (Wednesday) - Opening Night
| Time | Area | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 ~ 19:00 | Jobu | Uzui Plaza | 4 |
October 16 (Thursday)
| Time | Area | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 ~ 6:30 | Jobu | Uchinomiya Shrine⭐︎ | 4 |
| 4:00 ~ 6:30 | Jobu | Hagioka Shrine | 4 |
| 5:00 ~ 7:30 | Jobu | Hakusan Shrine | 3 |
| 6:00 ~ 7:00 | Jobu | Mishima Shrine | 1 |
| 6:30 | Kawahigashi | Kiyosumi Shrine | 1 |
| 7:00 ~ 7:30 | Jobu | Todai Shrine | 1 |
| 8:00 ~ 8:30 | Jobu | Urado Shrine | 3 |
| 8:30 | Kawahigashi | Hachiman Shrine | 8 |
| 11:00 ~ 12:00 | Jobu | Nakahagi Kirakira Park | 2 |
| 16:00 ~ 17:10 | Kawahigashi | Takihama Procession | 9 |
| 17:30 ~ 21:00 | Kawahigashi | Takatsu ES Night | 4 |
| 17:45 ~ 20:15 | Jobu | Marunaka Parking Lot⭐︎ | 9 |
| 18:00 ~ 19:45 | Kawahigashi | Tenjinhama Road Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 9 |
| 18:00 ~ 20:00 | Kawanishi | AEON Mall⭐︎ | 10 |
| 18:00 ~ 21:00 | Jobu | Kusuri no Aoki Ojoin⭐︎ | 11 |
| 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Kawanishi | Fuji Night Taiko | 3 |
| 19:50 ~ 21:00 | Kawahigashi | Tenjinhama Road Night Taiko | 4 |
| 20:05 ~ 21:00 | Kawahigashi | The Big Matsumiko Night Taiko | 5 |
October 17 (Friday)
| Time | Area | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 ~ 12:30 | Kawahigashi | Kokuryogawa Riverbed⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
| 10:30 ~ 12:00 | Kawanishi | Ikku Shrine⭐︎ | 13 |
| 13:00 ~ 14:00 | Jobu | Uzui Plaza Kakikurabe | 11 |
| 13:00 ~ 17:00 | Jobu | Yamane Ground⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎ | 20 |
| 14:50 | Kawahigashi | Enomoto Plaza | 9 |
| 16:30 ~ 16:50 | Kawahigashi | Takihama Station Part 1 | 17 |
| 17:20 ~ 20:00 | Kawahigashi | Takihama Station Kakiburabe⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
| 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Jobu | Yamane Ground Night Taiko | 8 |
| 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Jobu | Fuji Hongo Night Taiko | 7 |
| 19:00 ~ 21:00 | Jobu | Ikeda Pond Park | 5 |
| 19:30 ~ 21:00 | Kawahigashi | Ohtarachihime Shrine Festival | 2 |
October 18 (Saturday)
| Time | Area | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 ~ 10:00 | Kawanishi | Oehama Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 13 |
| 9:00 ~ 10:00 | Kawahigashi | Coop Kozato | 5 |
| 10:00 ~ 13:00 | Jobu | Nakahagi ES Kakikurabe | 7 |
| 14:10 ~ 19:40 | Kawahigashi | Hachiman Shrine⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
| 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Kawanishi | Ikku Shrine | 13 |
| 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Jobu | Izumigawa ES Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Jobu | Izumigawa ES Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 15:00 ~ 18:00 | Kawanishi | Ikku Shrine Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 13 |
| 15:30 ~ 17:30 | Jobu | Funaki ES Kakikurabe | 5 |
| 16:00 ~ 17:30 | Jobu | Hagioka Shrine | 4 |
| 16:00 ~ 18:00 | Jobu | Uchinomiya Shrine Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 16:30 ~ 17:30 | Jobu | Urato Shrine | 3 |
| 16:30 ~ 19:00 | Jobu | Hakusan Shrine | 3 |
| 17:30 ~ 19:00 | Jobu | Toyo Pet Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 18:00 ~ 18:30 | Jobu | Mishima Shrine | 1 |
| 18:00 ~ 18:30 | Jobu | Todai Shrine | 1 |
| 18:00 ~ 19:00 | Jobu | Funaki Shrine | 4 |
How to Read the Table
- Area Colors: Kawanishi (West Niihama, blue), Kawahigashi (East Niihama, green), Jobu (South Niihama, orange)
- ⭐︎ Marks: Events with ⭐︎ symbols are "kakikurabe" (competitive performances) featuring multiple floats
- Multiple Events: Some time slots have simultaneous events in different areas
Detailed Schedule by Area
Detailed schedule for each area organized by date.
Kawanishi Area (West Niihama) Schedule
The Kawanishi area includes events at AEON Mall and Ikku Shrine.
| Date | Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/16 | 18:00 ~ 20:00 | AEON Mall⭐︎ | 10 |
| 10/16 | 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Fuji Night Taiko | 3 |
| 10/17 | 10:30 ~ 12:00 | Ikku Shrine⭐︎ | 13 |
| 10/18 | 8:30 ~ 10:00 | Oehama Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 13 |
| 10/18 | 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Ikku Shrine | 13 |
| 10/18 | 15:00 ~ 18:00 | Ikku Shrine Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 13 |
Kawanishi Area Highlights
- AEON Mall (10/16 evening): Festival opening with 10 taiko floats gathering
- Ikku Shrine Kakikurabe (10/18 afternoon): Grand finale with a 3-hour spectacular performance
Kawahigashi Area (East Niihama) Schedule
October 16 (Thursday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 | Kiyosumi Shrine | 1 |
| 8:30 | Hachiman Shrine | 8 |
| 16:00 ~ 17:10 | Takihama Procession | 9 |
| 17:30 ~ 21:00 | Takatsu ES Night | 4 |
| 18:00 ~ 19:45 | Tenjinhama Road Kakikurabe⭐︎ | 9 |
| 19:50 ~ 21:00 | Tenjinhama Road Night Taiko | 4 |
| 20:05 ~ 21:00 | The Big Matsumiko Night Taiko | 5 |
October 17 (Friday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 ~ 12:30 | Kokuryogawa Riverbed⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
| 14:50 | Enomoto Plaza | 9 |
| 16:30 ~ 16:50 | Takihama Station Part 1 | 17 |
| 17:20 ~ 20:00 | Takihama Station Kakiburabe⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
| 19:30 ~ 21:00 | Ohtarachihime Shrine Festival | 2 |
October 18 (Saturday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 ~ 10:00 | Coop Kozato | 5 |
| 14:10 ~ 19:40 | Hachiman Shrine⭐︎⭐︎ | 17 |
Kawahigashi Area Highlights
- Kokuryogawa Riverbed (10/17 morning): Spectacular gathering of 17 taiko floats
- Takihama Station Kakiburabe (10/17 evening): Magical performance from dusk to night
- Hachiman Shrine (10/18 afternoon): Final long dedication ceremony closing the festival
Jobu Area (South Niihama) Schedule
The Jobu area features the longest operating hours, from early morning to late night.
October 15 (Wednesday) - Pre-festival
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 18:00 ~ 19:00 | Uzui Plaza | 4 |
October 16 (Thursday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 ~ 6:30 | Uchinomiya Shrine⭐︎ | 4 |
| 4:00 ~ 6:30 | Hagioka Shrine | 4 |
| 5:00 ~ 7:30 | Hakusan Shrine | 3 |
| 6:00 ~ 7:00 | Mishima Shrine | 1 |
| 7:00 ~ 7:30 | Todai Shrine | 1 |
| 8:00 ~ 8:30 | Urato Shrine | 3 |
| 11:00 ~ 12:00 | Nakahagi Kirakira Park | 2 |
| 17:45 ~ 20:15 | Marunaka Parking Lot⭐︎ | 9 |
| 18:00 ~ 21:00 | Kusuri no Aoki Ojoin⭐︎ | 11 |
October 17 (Friday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 ~ 14:00 | Uzui Plaza Kakikurabe | 11 |
| 13:00 ~ 17:00 | Yamane Ground⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎ | 20 |
| 19:00 ~ 21:00 | Ikeda Pond Park | 5 |
| 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Yamane Ground Night Taiko | 8 |
| 19:00 ~ 20:30 | Fuji Hongo Night Taiko | 7 |
October 18 (Saturday)
| Time | Location | Taiko Count |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 ~ 13:00 | Nakahagi ES Kakikurabe | 7 |
| 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Izumigawa ES Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 14:30 ~ 16:00 | Izumigawa ES Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 15:30 ~ 17:30 | Funaki ES Kakikurabe | 5 |
| 16:00 ~ 17:30 | Hagioka Shrine | 4 |
| 16:00 ~ 18:00 | Uchinomiya Shrine Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 16:30 ~ 17:30 | Urato Shrine | 3 |
| 16:30 ~ 19:00 | Hakusan Shrine | 3 |
| 17:30 ~ 19:00 | Toyo Pet Kakikurabe | 4 |
| 18:00 ~ 18:30 | Mishima Shrine | 1 |
| 18:00 ~ 18:30 | Todai Shrine | 1 |
| 18:00 ~ 19:00 | Funaki Shrine | 4 |
Jobu Area Highlights
- Uchinomiya Shrine Early Morning (10/16 from 3:00 AM): Sacred early morning dedication preserving festival tradition
- Yamane Ground (10/17 daytime): The festival's largest event with up to 20 taiko floats gathering
- Shrine Dedications (10/18 evening): Final shrine visits closing the festival
📋 Viewing Tips
Best Times to Visit
- Early Morning Dedications (6:00-8:00): Experience the traditional, solemn atmosphere
- Daytime Kakikurabe (10:00-17:00): See every detail in bright daylight
- Night Taiko (18:00-21:00): Magical illuminated performances
Important Notes
- Stay clear of the taiko float paths for safety
- Keep children close in crowded areas
- Dispose of trash properly
- Be considerate when taking photos - don't block other viewers
- Limited English signage - having this schedule helps!
🎌 Understanding the Festival
What is a Taiko-dai?
The festival floats (taiko-dai) are elaborate structures weighing about 3 tons, decorated with gold leaf, colored tapestries, and intricate carvings. Each float represents a neighborhood's pride and takes 50-100 men to carry and maneuver.
What is Kakikurabe?
"Kakikurabe" (かきくらべ) is the competitive performance where teams carry their floats and perform synchronized movements, competing for the crowd's approval. The coordination, strength, and showmanship create the festival's most exciting moments.
🎊 Make the Most of Your Visit
The Niihama Taiko Festival offers a rare glimpse into Japanese tradition and community spirit. The combination of physical prowess, artistic beauty, and cultural heritage creates an unforgettable experience.
Use this schedule to plan your festival route, and don't hesitate to explore beyond the highlighted events - every corner of the festival has something special to offer.
Please Note
This schedule is current as of October 2025. Events may change due to weather or other circumstances. Please check with official sources for the most current information on the day of your visit.
For the latest updates, visit the Niihama City tourism website or inquire at JR Niihama Station's tourist information center.