Held annually in August, the Matsuyama Kanko Matsuri is the city's principal summer celebration, linking the hot spring quarter of Dogo with the castle district in a weekend of communal festivity. The festival is best known for the Yakyuken Odori, a charmingly quirky rock-paper-scissors street dance that draws thousands of costumed participants through the city centre. Neighbourhood associations carry mikoshi portable shrines through the shopping arcades and along the tram routes, while Dogo Onsen's historic Honkan bathhouse is specially illuminated after dark. Local food stalls feature Ehime's famous mikan citrus products, Uwajima sushi, and jakoten fish cakes.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- August
- Region
- Shikoku
- Prefecture
- Ehime
- City
- Matsuyama
Highlights
- ◆Yakyuken Odori rock-paper-scissors street dance parade
- ◆Mikoshi processions through historic arcade streets
- ◆Dogo Onsen Honkan illuminated after dark
- ◆Jakoten fish cake and mikan citrus food stalls
- ◆Ehime folk performing arts on outdoor stages