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Kariya Mando Festival (Akibasha Shrine Festival)

Kariya Mando Festival (Akibasha Shrine Festival)

Date: Jul 26,2025(Sat)、Jul 27(Sun)

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Warrior balloons dance in the midsummer twilight

Akibasha Shrine's festival—the Kariya Mando Festival—is designated an intangible folk cultural property of Aichi and prays for a bountiful cereal harvest, fire prevention, and community well-being. During this foremost summer festival of Kariya City, known as one of the oddest in Japan, papier-mâché warrior balloons with a height of approximately five meters, width of approx. three meters, and weight of some 60 kilograms are carried by—believe it or not—one person each as they dance to flutes and drums. These mando balloons are actually made from Japanese paper and bamboo, differing from a typical inflated balloon.
Each year, over 100 thousand visitors come to see the spectacle over the two days it is held. And of course, it wouldn't be a proper festival without lots to eat, so food vendors line the event area.

The festival is currently held during the last Saturday and Sunday of July. On the first night, seven towns with Akibasha Shrine parishioners as well as companies and other areas within the city of Kariya enter their Mando balloons into the festival, with up to 20 giant balloons dancing around the streets as well as children's mando balloons parading throughout the city.
On the final night, the mando balloons of the seven towns with Akibasha Shrine parishioners enter the shrine's premises and perform dances as an offering. These bamboo and Japanese paper mando balloons are dressed in vivid colors; many depicting warriors and scenes from kabuki plays. Watching the young men who shoulder them dance to traditional flute and taiko drum performances is awe-inspiring.

EVENT OVERVIEW

Place	Area around Akibasha Shrine, downtown Kariya City
Location	〒448-0845 2-101 Ginza, Kariya-shi, Aichi Note: • The Access Map shows the location of Akibasha Shrine.
Restrooms	Available
Phone number	• 0566-23-4100 (Kariya Sightseeing Association, available 8:30 am–5:15 pm weekdays) • 0566-45-5833 (Kariya Station Front Tourist Information Center, available 10:00 am–6:00 pm daily)

Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.

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ACCESS

Access by public transport

• 5-min. walk north from Kariyashi Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line (board from Kariya Station or Chiryu Station).
•10-min. walk west from Kariya Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line and JR Tokaido Main Line (board from either JR Nagoya Station or Meitetsu Chiryu Station).