【Miyagi・Shiogama】Shiogama Minato Matsuri Boat Picnic

Watch the colourful boat parade from the water!

✔ Watch the colourful ocean parade from a private local boat
✔ Avoid fighting the crowds for the best view
✔ Local 'obento' style lunch and local sake included
✔ Experience a Japanese summer festival like the locals

Shiogama’s ‘Minato Matsuri’ festival has been named one of ‘Three Great Boat Festivals’ of Japan, and is one of the most exciting summer events along Miyagi’s coastline.

Every year on the ‘Umi-no-hi’ (Marine Day) public holiday in July, sacred omikoshi (portable shrines) are carried from Shiogama Shrine through the streets to Shiogama Port, where they are loaded onto colourful festival boats called ‘Ryu-maru’ (dragon boat) and ‘Hou-maru’ (pheonix boat). Accompanied by traditional music and a huge display of colourful flags, the festival boats lead a massive parade of over 100 local fishing boats around the port and out into Matsuhima Bay.

On this tour, you can experience the highlights of the festival as the locals do! After exploring the festival action in town and watching the heavy omikoshi be carried down the 200+ front steps of Shiogama Shrine, you will board a local boat to watch the exciting boat parade up-close from the water!

https://www.tohoku-local-secret-tours.jp/tourinfo/942/