Festivals / Second / Sakura

Sakura Autumn Festival

佐倉の秋祭りsay “sah-koo-rah ah-kee mah-tsoo-ree”

Floats, mikoshi and dancing stages wind through the old samurai town of Sakura, just 15 minutes from Narita Airport.

Sakura · Map ↗Second Friday to Sunday of October, every year★★ Day tripFloat festivalEdo culture

An ornate mikoshi stands on stands in front of the wooden hall of Makata Shrine. — A mikoshi in front of Makata Shrine during the Sakura Autumn Festival. Photo: Nippon Matsuri Network (matsuri-stream.jp), CC BY 4.0. Source

What it is

Sakura was a castle town guarding the eastern approach to Edo, and it still has streets of samurai houses. Its autumn festival began as the festival of Makata Shrine, a prayer of thanks for the harvest.

Over three days in October, the town’s neighborhoods pull out their mikoshi, Edo-style floats and omikisho, carts carrying dancers, and parade them through the winding streets of the old town. It is a lively local festival within easy reach of Narita Airport.

Key dates

The festival at a glance

Date	What happens
Friday to Sunday	Floats and mikoshi: Floats, mikoshi and dancing carts parade through the castle town

First visit?

Which day should you go?

Best for first-timers

Saturday

The busiest day, with floats from the town's neighborhoods out together.

At the festival

What to look for

Dashi

Edo-style floats topped with figures, pulled through the narrow streets.

Omikisho

Carts carrying dancers who perform as they are pulled along.

Samurai houses

Sakura's preserved samurai residences are a short walk from the festival route.

Getting there

Getting there & where to stay

From	How	Time
Ueno, Tokyo	Keisei Line to Keisei-Sakura	about 1 h
Narita Airport	Keisei Line to Keisei-Sakura	about 15 min

On the day. The floats parade through the old castle town between Keisei-Sakura and JR Sakura stations.

Crowds. Busy but relaxed. The evening, with the floats lit up, is the best time.

Where to stay

Our pick

Narita

Close to the airport. A good first or last night of your trip.

Tokyo (Ueno)

Direct Keisei trains to Sakura.

When to book. Booking 1 month ahead is usually enough.

Times are typical fastest routes. Check current timetables before you travel.

Before you go

Practical tips

Narita. A good festival for a first or last day in Japan, close to Narita Airport.

Words you’ll hear

Glossary

Dashi山車

A general word for a festival float that is pulled through the streets.

Mikoshi神輿

A portable shrine. During the festival the kami rides inside while people carry it through the neighborhood.

Matsuri祭り

A Japanese festival, usually held for the kami of a local shrine. The word comes from the idea of serving and entertaining the gods.

Sources

References

Sakura City Tourism Association: Sakura Autumn Festival.
Matsuri Stream (Nippon Matsuri Network): Sakura Aki Matsuri.

Last checked 2026-10-13.