Kishiwada September Danjiri Festival 岸和田だんじり祭

A procession of 100-plus men rush down the street, hauling immaculately handcrafted danjiri that turn sharply around the narrow corners. Caught up in the throes of excitement, a man stands on top of the float, shouting enthusiastically as he bounces back and forth.

Before the spread of Covid-19, the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri was the largest and most extravagant danjiri festival in Japan, with 34 separate danjiri and 500,000 visitors each year, before the pandemic. The event is an essential stop during your travels if you're lucky enough to be in the area in mid-September.

The festival takes place around Kishiwada Castle . From Namba Station, take the Nankai Main Line to Kishiwada Station and walk 15 minutes north to arrive at the castle.

Weighing around four tons, traditional danjiri floats are ornately crafted wooden structures with detailed carvings of ancient, medieval and early modern battles and folklore of each town. The 34 floats paraded around at the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival are from each neighborhood in the city of Kishiwada. Residents spend the year working on the floats and preparing for the event.

Check the official city website for an updated schedule. The festival is generally held on a weekend in mid-September. If you are unable to make it during the festival, Kishiwada Castle is still a worthwhile place to visit.