Mikumano Shrine Grand Festival

In 2026, the Enshu Yokosuka Mikumano Shrine Grand Festival, which opens the festival season in the Enshu region, was held grandly over three days, April 3–5. The highlights are the mikoshi procession and the parade of the 13 gorgeous "neri" floats that follow. Accompanied by flute and drum festival music and the shouts of "Shita! Shita!", the neri vigorously paraded through the town are well worth seeing. I couldn't take my eyes off the Hannya (demon mask) dancing wildly on top of a neri against a backdrop of full-bloom cherry blossoms.