![[Latest 2026] Ozu City Annual Event Calendar! Festivals & Events Summary](https://machikadoehime.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-3-1024x768.webp)
📅 Event Calendar (Ozu Area)
Late Mar - Late Apr
Ozu Sightseeing Cherry Blossom Festival & Night Cherry Blossom Market
Castle and Night Cherry Blossoms 📅 Late March to Late April (Annually)
Ozu Castle / Hiji River Green Space Area
Late Mar - May
Spring Boat Tour
No Reservations 📅 Specific weekends from late March to early May (Annually)
Ozu Machi-no-Eki Asamoya
Golden Week Period
Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour
Fresh Greenery Tour 📅 Annually during Golden Week
Ozu Machi-no-Eki Asamoya
Late April - Mid-May
Tomisuyama Azalea Festival
60,000 Azaleas in Bloom 📅 Annually, late April - mid-May
Tomisuyama Park
Late May
Hiji River Opening
Water Activities 📅 Annually, late May (Sunday)
Midori no Kawaminato ~ Shiroshita Kawaminato
Late May to mid-June
Yanagisawa Firefly Festival & Iris Garden
Summer Tradition 📅 Annually, late May to mid-June
Yanagisawa Area, Ozu City
Around 7/24
Niiya Summer Festival Fireworks Display
Roaring Echoes of the Basin 📅 Annually, around July 24th
Ozu City, Shintani Area
1st Saturday of August
Nagahama Akabashi Summer Festival & Fireworks Display
Fireworks Reflected in the Sea 📅 Annually, 1st Saturday of August
Nagahama Port Green Space
1st Sunday of August
Ozu River Festival Fireworks Display: Summer Battle
Ehime's Largest Class 📅 Annually, 1st Sunday of August (postponed in case of bad weather)
Hijikita Kawara / Green Park
Late August
Suitengu Fireworks Display (Grand Night Market)
Last Fireworks 📅 Annually, late August (Sunday)
Around Suitengu Shrine
6/1〜9/20
Ozu Cormorant Fishing (Hiji River Ukai)
Impressive Power 📅 Annually, June 1st to September 20th (Closed on Tuesdays)
Hiji River (Around Ozu Castle Town)
Late August - Mid-October
Original Ozu Imotaki
Ehime's Autumn Specialty 📅 Late August - Mid-October (Annually)
Konan Picnic Land
11/2〜11/3
Ozu Festival (Onari Procession)
Ozu's Biggest Autumn Festival 📅 November 2nd & 3rd (Fixed annually)
Hachiman Shrine - Ozu City / Hiji River Green Space Park
November
Niya Inariyama Park Maple Festival
Famous autumn foliage spot 📅 Annually from November 1st to November 30th
Niya Inariyama Park
Mid-November
Shirataki Maple Festival (Ruri-hime Matsuri)
Waterfalls and autumn leaves 📅 Annually from early November to early December
Shirataki Park
Year-round Sundays
Some exclusion dates apply
Pokopen Yokocho
Showa Retro 📅 Held on Sundays (may vary, e.g., only on the 3rd Sunday depending on the month)
Pokopen Hiroba
1/9〜1/11
Ebisu Festival (Toka Ebisu Festival)
New Year's Tradition 📅 Annually from January 9th to 11th (Fixed)
Ozu Shrine
Early March
Goro Rapeseed Blossom Festival
Best Time for Flowers 📅 Early March (Annually)
Goro Riverbed, Ozu City
Mid-March
3rd Sunday
Pokopen Festival
Special Event 📅 Third Sunday of March (Annually)
Pokopen Hiroba (next to Ozu Red Brick Hall)
October - March
Hiji River Arashi Observation Season
Japan's Three Great Arashi 📅 Late October - March of the following year (Early mornings, Annually)
Hiji River Arashi Observation Park / Nagahama Ohashi Bridge
📿
Temple Fair / Blessings
Kanamayama Izushiji Temple Spring Grand Temple Fair
A temple fair held at Kanamayama Izushiji Temple, one of Shikoku's oldest sacred sites at an altitude of 812m. Stalls line the grounds, allowing visitors to enjoy the solemn atmosphere of the mountain temple and the beauty of spring nature.
🌸
Cherry Blossom Spot
Ozu Sightseeing Cherry Blossom Festival & Night Cherry Blossom Market
A special market where you can enjoy the illuminated night cherry blossoms at Ozu Castle and the atmosphere of the castle town. Numerous weekend markets and outdoor events are held to coincide with the cherry blossom season.
🌸
Cherry Blossom Spot
Hataki Sakura Festival & Cherry Blossom Viewing
A local, handmade-style cherry blossom viewing event held at Gion Park, a famous spot for 'Yaezakura' (double-flowered cherry blossoms) which bloom slightly later than Somei Yoshino.
🚢
River Cruise / Spectacular View
Spring Boat Tour
A spring-exclusive experience to cruise down the Hiji River in a yakatabune (traditional Japanese boat) during the cherry blossom and fresh green season. This special spring plan allows you to view Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso from the water.
🎪
Market
Muchuu Marche（ムチュウマルシェ）
A small market held at Tomisuyama Observatory, a scenic spot in Ozu City. Enjoy gourmet food from kitchen cars along with panoramic views.
🌿
River Cruise / Spectacular View
Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour
A classic Golden Week experience: a river cruise down the beautiful Hiji River in a yakatabune (traditional houseboat). This approximately 2-hour course offers views of Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso from the water.
🌺
Spectacular Scenery / Flowers
Tomisuyama Azalea Festival
A breathtaking festival of spectacular scenery held at Tomisuyama Park, known as one of Western Japan's leading azalea gardens, where over 63,000 azaleas bloom simultaneously. From the summit, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the Ozu Basin and the majestic Hiji River.
🛶
Events / Experiences
Hiji River Opening
An event offering various river activities on the Hiji River before the cormorant fishing season begins. Enjoy canoe experiences, SUP, "Zoburi experience," and food trucks, with a relaxing "Ozu Plage" also available.
👘
Culture & Marche
Monpe Exhibition
An event themed around "Monpe," workwear symbolizing the culture of wealthy farmers and agricultural villages in Ozu. Enjoy sales of handmade goods, agricultural products, and food and drinks.
✨
Fireflies & Scenic View
Yanagisawa Firefly Festival & Iris Garden
A fantastic seasonal tradition where natural Genji fireflies flutter along the river in the Yanagisawa area. At the same time, purple and white irises (hanashobu) bloom beautifully in competition.
🛍️
Market
Ehime Creators' Marche in OZU
A large-scale marche where craft and handmade artists from Ehime gather in Ozu. A variety of handmade goods such as miscellaneous items, pottery, and food products will be on display.
🎆
Summer Festival & Fireworks
Niiya Summer Festival Fireworks Display
A fireworks display that concludes the summer festival in the Niiya area of Ozu City. These powerful fireworks create a roaring sound that echoes through your body, unique to a basin surrounded by mountains.
🎆
Summer Festival & Fireworks
Nagahama Akabashi Summer Festival & Fireworks Display
A summer festival set against the backdrop of Nagahama Ohashi (Red Bridge), the oldest existing movable bridge, and Iyonada Sea. The climax features approximately 1,800 fireworks, creating a spectacular light show that illuminates the night sky and the sea surface.
🔥
Grand Fireworks Display
Ozu River Festival Fireworks Display: Summer Battle
🎆🔥 A Dream Collaboration of Japan's Three Great Cormorant Fishing + Approx. 3000 Fireworks! Ozu's largest summer festival, attracting approximately 80,000 visitors. The biggest highlight is the simultaneous viewing of 'Ozu no Ukai' (cormorant fishing) and fireworks. Enjoy the mystical lights of cormorant fishing and the fireworks in the night sky, accompanied by roaring echoes that shake the basin.
The fireworks are launched with Ozu Castle as a backdrop, offering beauty and power on one of the largest scales in Ehime.
🎆
Summer Festival & Fireworks
Kano River Summer Festival & Fireworks Display
A summer festival held on the mountain lake, Kanogawa Lake. Enjoy a fantastic view as approximately 2,100 fireworks illuminate the night lake surface and the mountain ridges.
🎆
Summer Festival & Fireworks
Kawabe Furusato Festival & Fireworks Display
A handmade summer festival organized by the local residents of the Kawabe area. After local performing arts and food stalls, the festival concludes with fireworks echoing through the mountains.
⛩️
Temple Fair / Blessings
Kanayama Izushiji Temple Summer Grand Ennichi
A summer ennichi (temple fair) at Kanayama Izushiji Temple, Shikoku's oldest sacred site located at an altitude of 812m. Many worshippers visit the cool mountaintop.
🎆
Summer Festival & Fireworks
Suitengu Fireworks Display (Grand Night Market)
This is the grand finale of Ozu's summer! The grand night market around Suitengu Shrine and the final fireworks evoke the sentiment of summer's end.
🔥
One of Japan's Three Great Cormorant Fishing Traditions
Ozu Cormorant Fishing (Hiji River Ukai)
🔥 Japan's only "Awase Ukai"! One of Japan's Three Great Cormorant Fishing Traditions A traditional fishing method with a history of 1,300 years. Houseboats run alongside cormorant fishing boats with bonfires, allowing you to experience the moment cormorants catch ayu (sweetfish) up close. It is Ozu's biggest summer specialty.
The sight of cormorant fishermen skillfully handling cormorants in their eboshi (hats) and koshimino (straw skirts) is breathtaking. It's a supremely luxurious time to enjoy along with the view of Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso floating under the moonlight.
🍧
Gourmet
Ozu Castle Town Cool Breeze Sweets Stroll
This popular stamp rally event allows you to enjoy summer-limited menus while strolling through cafes and sweets shops in the castle town area.
🍠
Autumn Tradition & Gourmet Food
Original Ozu Imotaki
🍠 Ehime's Autumn Icon! Original Imotaki An Ehime specialty hot pot dish with taro, chicken, konjac, and more. Enjoying this hot pot outdoors in the green space along the Hiji River, listening to the gentle murmur of the river, is an exceptional experience!
Advance reservations are required at registered establishments, and events such as the 'Hatsuni-kai' (first cooking gathering) are held right after the season begins.
🚴
Cycling
Tour de Hijikawa
A cycling event along the beautiful Hiji River in Ozu. In the clear autumn air, cycle through famous spots like the castle town, Ozu Castle, and Garyu Sanso Villa.
🌿
Yosakoi Dance Performance
Ehime YOSAKOI Festival
Yosakoi dancers from Ehime and Nanyo gather in Ozu. Dynamic performances are showcased one after another against the backdrop of the atmospheric castle town.
🏯
Traditional Event & Autumn Festival
Ozu Festival (Onari Procession)
The 'Onari' procession, recreating the Sankin-kotai (feudal lords' alternate attendance system) that has continued for over 300 years, parades through Ozu City. The unique pace of the 'Hachihachi no Tomo' at the front and the grand procession of attendants in splendid costumes are truly magnificent.
👟
Walking
Walk Sakamoto Ryoma's Escape Route in Waraji Sandals
This is a unique Bakumatsu-era romantic walking event where modern people wear 'waraji' (straw sandals) and walk the old mountain path that Sakamoto Ryoma took when he escaped from his domain.
🍁
Autumn Leaves & Spectacular View
Niya Inariyama Park Maple Festival
A famous spot for autumn leaves where maples, including a 200-year-old ancient maple, simultaneously change color. The contrast between the historical atmosphere of the castle ruins and the autumn leaves is magnificent, and stalls selling momiji manju (maple leaf-shaped cakes) are also present.
🍁
Autumn leaves・Festival
Shirataki Maple Festival (Ruri-hime Matsuri)
An autumn foliage festival held at Shirataki Park, where seven waterfalls and autumn leaves create a beautiful tapestry. During the festival, the waterfalls are lit up, and the powerful 'Ruri-hime Matsuri' is also held, where a flower mikoshi (portable shrine) is thrown into the basin of the waterfall.
🎭
Year-round・Retro
Pokopen Yokocho
The nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa 30s (1955-1964) is completely recreated, street by street! This is a super classic spot in Ozu where you can enjoy old-fashioned games like Chinese noodles, croquettes, and spinning tops.
🍶
Monthly・Gourmet
Ozu Night Bar Crawl
A monthly bar crawl event where you can enjoy delicious drinks and gourmet food at restaurants in Ozu's castle town with tickets. Tourists can easily savor the local cuisine and drinks.
🏯
Famous spot・Historic site
Ozu Castle Keep Tour
It is one of Japan's largest wooden reconstructed castle keeps (reconstructed in 2004). This castle is full of historical romance, where you can admire its impressive wooden framework and historical documents from that period.
🏮
Famous Place / Architecture
Scenic Spot: Garyu Sanso
A masterpiece of Sukiya-zukuri architecture built with the utmost elegance in the Meiji era. The architectural beauty of "Furo-an," overlooking the beautiful depths of the Hiji River, is well worth seeing.
🏘️
Stroll through a Famous Place
Ohanahan Street
An atmospheric cobblestone street that was the setting for the NHK TV drama "Ohanahan." You can stroll while feeling the history of Ozu's castle town.
🎋
Traditional Event / New Year
Ebisu Festival (Toka Ebisu Festival)
A New Year's good luck festival held annually at Ozu Shrine, which enshrines the Ebisu deity. Lucky charms with lottery tickets are distributed, and the shrine bustles with worshippers praying for business prosperity and family safety.
🌼
Spectacular View / Flower Field
Goro Rapeseed Blossom Festival
🌼 A carpet of 3.5 million rapeseed blossoms! One of Shikoku's premier flower spots. Approximately 3.5 million rapeseed blossoms bloom across 7 hectares of the Goro Riverbed, creating a yellow carpet stretching to the horizon. There are also star-shaped and heart-shaped flowerbeds, perfect for Instagram photos.
On the day of the festival, a fresh vegetable market, mochi pounding, and mochi throwing events are held, attracting many visitors.
🎠
Retro Festival
Pokopen Festival
Held grandly once a year as a special edition of the regular 'Pokopen Yokocho' (Pokopen Alley). Stalls completely recreate the Showa 30s (1955-1964) with Chinese noodles, croquettes, old-fashioned toys, and more.
💨
Natural Phenomenon & Spectacular View
Hiji River Arashi Observation Season
💨 Like a White Dragon! A Globally Rare Natural Phenomenon A dynamic phenomenon where fog generated in the Ozu Basin, accompanied by strong winds, rushes towards the Nagahama estuary. The sight of this 'Japan's Three Great Arashi' bathed in the morning sun is breathtakingly beautiful.
It can be observed from Nagahama Ohashi Bridge (Red Bridge) or the observation park on clear, cold autumn to winter mornings.
📝 Information is current as of writing. Dates, contents, and fees are subject to change.
Please check the official website before visiting.
Please check the official website before visiting.
