Miyajima Kangensai Lantern Parade

This is a great way to take part in the Miyajima Kangensai Festival. Participation is free of charge and there is no need to reserve in advance.

Participants gather at Nagahama Shrine which has it’s own red torii shrine gate on the water’s edge a 3-minute walk from Miyajima Ferry Port (in the opposite direction to Itsukushima Shrine). Here, lanterns are handed out with which, after a fire lighting ceremony, everyone welcomes the Gozabune festival ship, pulled by the rowboats, back from Jigozen Shrine on the mainland.

After a ceremony and performance of classical gagaku court music, the rowboats proceed to pull the Gozabune festival boat back into the bay where they spin it around 3 times before heading towards Itsukushima Shrine for the climax of the Kangensai Festival.

The lantern parade then begins, heading to Itsukushima Shrine by way of Omotesando shopping street.

Miyajima Kangensai Lantern Parade Timetable

• 19:30 Distribution of lanterns at Nagahama Shrine (3 minutes walk from Miyajima Ferry Port)
• 20:20 Fire lighting ceremony
• 20:20 Arrival of the Gozabune at Nagahama Shrine
• 21:00 Lantern parade departs for Itsukushima Shrine

The lanterns are collected at Itsukushima Shrine so that they can be used again the following year.

If you plan to stay at Itsukushima Shrine to await the arrival of the boats, please take note of the ferry and train schedules (see below) so that you don’t get stranded!

Getting back from the 2024 Kangensai Festival

Last Matsudai Ferry Departures (Miyajima to Miyajima-guchi)
21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30, 24:00
(JR pass not valid)

Last Train Departures
Miyajima-guchi towards Hiroshima: 23:27
Miyajima-guchi towards Iwakuni: 24:31

Last Hiroden Streetcar Departure: 23:27