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April Festivals on Sado Island 2026

April on Sado Island is a vibrant season of festivals, centered around the ritual of Onidaiko. Throughout the month, villages all over the island hold their own shrine festivals featuring this tradition, where dancers wearing fearsome oni (demon) masks perform to the rhythmic beat of taiko drums. However, on Sado, these oni are not villains but friendly deities who visit communities to ward off evil, purify homes, and pray for a successful rice planting season. Each performance is unique, with styles ranging from the Noh-influenced sliding steps of the central Katagami-style to the one-footed jumping of the Issoku-style in the Ogi area. These April festivals often include other traditional arts like Yabusame (horseback archery) and portable shrine processions, creating a powerful and deeply spiritual atmosphere that marks the island's most important festival season of the year.
Find the schedule of festivals in April this year - and enjoy the ritual of Onidaiko on Sado Island!
April 1st (Wednesday)
Group: Sugino-ura Lion Dance Preservation Society
Performance: Oshishi and Koshishi
Start / End Time: Procession begins after Shinto Ritual at 7:00. 16:00 Closing
Gosha Shrine Annual Festival (Gosha Shrine) at Niibo (Niibo Uryuya)
Group: Uryuya Children's Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style> [Children's Oni-daiko]
Start / End Time: 13:00: Start, 16:00-16:30: ends at Ag. Center.
April 3 (Friday)
Group: Ichinomiya Shrine Youth Group (Ichinomiya Onidaiko Preservation Society)
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 14:00 Ceremony / 15:00 Onidaiko performance
Nagaki Hachiman Wakamiya Shrine Annual Festival (Hachiman Wakamiya Shrine) at Sawada (Nagaki)
Group: Nagagi Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 11:30~
April 4 (Saturday)
Group: Nagaki Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Start 7:30 AM / 17:30 Mikoshi finale at the Shrine
Kawachi Shrine Annual Festival (Kawachi Shrine) at Hatano (Hamakawachi)
Group: Hamakawachi Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Maehama style>
Start / End Time: 6:00~
April 7 (Tuesday)
Group: Shinkoji Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 6:00~
April 8 (Wednesday)
Group: Nishiyamada Iwano Group Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko
Start / End Time: ~
April 11 (Saturday)
Group: Asahi Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 9:00: Start Nisho Shrine / 9:30: Mishima Shrine / 19:00: End
Ohata Shrine Spring Grand Festival (Ohata Shrine) at Aikawa (Okura)
Group: Okura Grand Festival Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Mamemaki style>
Start / End Time: 11:00 Shinto ritual ceremony 11:30: Performance at shrine
Hakusan Shrine Annual Festival (Hakusan Shrine) at Niibo (Niibo Minagawa)
Group: Minagawa Onidaiko
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 8:30 Start / around 17:30 Finish
Uriuya Youth Association Onidaiko (Gosha Shrine) at Niibo (Niibo Uriuya)
Group: Uriuya Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 4:30 Start / 23:30 End at temporary shrine.
Aono Grand Festival (Hakusan Shrine) at Sawada (Aono)
Group: Otowa-kai
Performance: Oni-daiko <Mamemaki style>
Start / End Time: At Showa Kaikan. 1st performance: 11:00 AM - 2nd performance: 14:00
Mononobe Shrine Festival (Mononobe Shrine) at Hatano (Ogura)
Group: Ogura Mononobe Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Maehama style>
Start / End Time: 5:00 AM: Depart Shrine / 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Return to the shrine.
Minamikatabe Hakusan Shrine Annual Festival (Evening Festival) (Hakusan Shrine) at Aikawa (Minamikatabe)
Group: Minami Katabe Taiko Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Issoku-style>
Start / End Time: 18:30 (Little lion dance from 19:00)
Kumano Shrine Annual Festival (Evening Festival) (Kumano Shrine) at Aikawa (Kitagawauchi)
Group: Kitagawachi Festival Preservation Society
Performance: Small Lion Dance with Onidaiko <Mamemaki style>
Start / End Time: 19:00~ small lion dance *The small lion dance will only be performed on the evening of the festival.
April 12 (Sunday)
Group: Minami Katabe Taiko Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Issoku-style>
Start / End Time: 9:00 Gate procession, scheduled to enter the shrine around 15:00
Kumano Shrine Annual Festival (Door-to-Door Performance) (Kumano Shrine) at Aikawa (Kitagawauchi)
Group: Kitagawachi Festival Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Mamemaki style>
Start / End Time: Start around 8:00 AM, Finish around 15:00
Kamiyokoyama Festival (Kinpo Shrine) at Ryotsu (Kamiyokoyama)
Group: Kamiyokoyama Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:30 Start / 6:00 Depart from the shrine / 20:00 Return to the shrine
Tateno Sansha Shrine Main Festival (Sansha Shrine) at Ryotsu (Tateno)
Group: Tateno Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 10:00 AM: Shrine Start / Around 19:00: Closing
Kawasaki Festival (Mizuo Shrine) at Ryotsu (Kawasaki)
Group: Kawasaki Oni Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 13:30 Prayer and performance at Konpira Community Center
Izuna Shrine Annual Festival (Izuna Shrine) at Ryotsu (Kakinoura)
Group: Kakinoura Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style> <Maehama style>
Start / End Time: 8:00 (scheduled) Departure / 18:00 (scheduled) Entry into the shrine
Izuna Shrine Annual Festival (Izuna Shrine) at Ryotsu (Kakinoura)
Group: Kakinoura Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style> <Maehama style>
Start / End Time: 8:00 (scheduled) Departure / 18:00 (scheduled) Entry into the shrine
Kumano Shrine Annual Festival (Kumano Shrine) at Kanai (Obana)
Group: Obana Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Implemented at the neighborhood association level.
April 13 (Monday)
Group: Sado Funashita Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time:
Sanno Festival (Hiyoshi Shrine) at Niibo (Niibo-Ono)
Group: Ohno Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 18:00 at Hiyoshi Shrine in Ohno / 19:00 at Hiyoshi Shrine in Kami-Shinbo
April 14 (Tuesday)
Group: Niibo Central Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time:
Mireichi Shrine Annual Festival (Evening Festival) (Mireichi Shrine) at Aikawa (Kitadanoura)
Group: Goreichi Shrine Festival Events
Performance: Furyūodori
Start / End Time: Around 19:00, performances of Hanagasa Odori (flower hat dance) and Shishi (lion dance, three lions) will be held at the Revitalization Center and four other locations. *Furyu Odori will not be performed at the main festival on the 15th.
Susanoo Shrine Annual Festival (Evening Festival) (Susanoo Shrine) at Aikawa (Ishihana)
Group: Ishihana Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Around 19:30: From the shrine to the intersection on the prefectural road, until around 20:30.
Senbon Spring Festival (Evening Festival) (Hachiman Shrine) at Aikawa (Senbon)
Group: Senbon Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Around 18:00 to 20:00
April 15 (Wednesday)
Group: Ishihana Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 8:00 Start / 18:00 Shrine
Senbon Spring Festival (Door-to-door performances) (Hachiman Shrine) at Aikawa (Senbon)
Group: Senbon Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 8:30 Start / 17:00 Finish
Kumano Shrine Annual Festival (Kumano Shrine) at Niibo (Niibo Aoki)
Group: Aoki Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:00~
Hakusan Shrine Annual Festival (Hakusan Shrine) at Niibo (Uchimaki)
Group: Uchimaki Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 9:30 AM: Start / 17:00: End
Shinbo Hachimangu Shrine Annual Festival (Shinbo Matsuri) (Shinbo Hachimangu Shrine) at Kanai (Shinbo/Chigusa)
Group: Kenchikai Shinbo Doshidan Chigusa Yorikikai
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Each Onidaiko enters the shrine around 14:45 / Simultaneous Onidaiko dedication – around 15:00
〇 Chikusa settlement "Monotsuke" (door-to-door performance)
▶ Ōwada – 6:00 – Yakushidō (Kenchi-kai)
▶ Nishikata – 5:30 – Nishikata Activation Center (Chikusa Yoryoku-kai)
〇 Niibo settlement "Monotsuke"
Please watch the Onidaiko performance by the Niibo Dōshi-dan at the dedication ceremony starting at 15:00 at Niibo Hachiman Shrine.
Izumi Festival (Araki Shrine) at Kanai (Izumi)
Group: Izumi Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time:
Yamato Festival (Ryosho Grand Shrine and Karasaki Shrine) at Kanai (Yamato)
Group: Yamato Youth Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:00 Start / 16:00 Return
Takahama Shrine Annual Festival (Takahama Shrine) at Sawada (Kubota)
Group: Kubota Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:30-6:30 AM: Start / 20:30-21:00: Return
Meguro-cho Kumano Shrine Annual Festival (Kumano Shrine) at Hatano (Meguro-cho)
Group: Meguro-cho Oni Taiko
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:30 Start / 19:00 Return
Sannomiya Hata Festival (Sannomiya Shrine and Kumano Shrine) at Hatano (Sannomiya/Hata)
Group: Sannomiya Shota Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 4:45 Start / Return at 12:00 to Kumano Shrine / 17:00 Sannomiya Shrine
Kamo Shrine Annual Festival (Kamo Shrine) at Hatano (Kurinoe)
Group: Kurinoe Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time:
Hamanaka Festival (Takiya Shrine) at Mano (Hamanaka)
Group: Hamanaka Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko
Start / End Time: 6:00 AM Start / 12:00 AM Arrival at the shrine
Aizawa Festival (Daizen Shrine) at Mano (Aizawa)
Group: Aizawa Youth Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 6:00AM - Start / 20:00 - 21:00 - Return
April 16 (Thursday)
Group: Fukuura Oni Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 6:00 AM: Procession to the shrine 7:00 AM: Departure
Akai Shrine Annual Festival (Akai Shrine) at Ryotsu (Kamoutashiro)
Group: Kamoutashiro Onidaiko Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 6:00AM ~ End 21:00 at Community Center
April 18 (Saturday)
Group: Kasuga Oni Group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time:
Atsuta Shrine Annual Festival (Atsuta Shrine) at Ryotsu (Akitsu)
Group: Akitsu Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 5:00AM Start / 22:00 End
Maki Festival (Kawasaki Shrine) at Ryotsu (Maki)
Group: Maki Onidaiko Preservation Society
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 8:00 Start / 18:00-19:00 Enter into the shrine
April 27 (Monday)
Group: Kawarada Suwa Shrine Parishioners' Association
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: 6:30 AM Start / 20:30 PM Finish
April 29 (Wednesday)
Group: Tsubaki Oni group
Performance: Oni-daiko <Katagami style>
Start / End Time: Start 6:00 AM / Finish 17:00