Hikone Castle Festival Parade

The 73rd Hikone Castle Festival parade crosses the centre of Hikone on 3 November 2026, a public holiday. Several hundred people take part: costumed Ii Red Oni retainers, a children's daimyo procession, a children's period-costume procession, Ichimonji-gasa and Ichimegasa hat groups, school marching bands and the Hikone town fire brigade, who give a traditional ladder-riding display. It sets off from the street in front of JR Hikone Station, passes the Iroha Pine area, goes through the castle grounds, then follows Yumekyobashi, Honmachi, Ginza and Noboricho to Joto Elementary School. The whole parade takes about an hour and a half.

The parade starts at the Asahicho-nishi crossing on the street running from JR Hikone Station towards the castle, so the station is the natural starting point for visitors. Watching from the roadside is free; no paid seating or parking arrangements are published. Roads in the city centre are closed to traffic from about 13:00 to 15:00, so come by train rather than car. The parade runs from 13:00 to 14:30 and is cancelled in the event of rain.