Samurai & Ninja Festival 2026 (サムライ・ニンジャ フェスティバル 2026) will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at Odaka Ryokuchi in Midori Ward, Nagoya. The participatory Sengoku-period event is designed for families to enjoy together.
Aichi Prefecture promotes "warrior tourism" (武将観光) under the banner "Aichi, the hometown of warriors" (武将のふるさと愛知), as the home of many Sengoku warriors, including the region's three heroes Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. Warrior tourism events have been held since fiscal 2014, and this year marks the 12th. Along with performances by warrior troupes and ninja troupes from across Japan, the festival offers an expanded lineup of hands-on programs, including samurai and ninja experiences, for a wide range of visitors.
The 2026 Taiga historical drama 豊臣兄弟！ is currently on air, and families are invited to set out for the festival together.
Event Overview
- Date and time: Sunday, November 29, 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (held rain or shine; canceled in case of severe weather)
- Venue: Aichi Prefectural Urban Park Odaka Ryokuchi (県営都市公園大高緑地), around Wakakusayama (若草山), 1-1 Aza Takayama, Odaka-cho, Midori Ward, Nagoya
- Main visual: Illustrated by warrior illustrator Hiroyuki Suwahara (諏訪原寛幸)
Venue Map
Event Schedule
Event Highlights
Grand Warrior Procession (大武者行列)
Performers are subject to change.
More than 100 performers, including the Governor of Aichi Prefecture in warrior attire and warrior troupes, ninja troupes and armor troupes from across Japan, march boldly through the venue in a spectacular opening.
- Time: 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
- Location: From Stage 2 to Stage 1
Everyone's Victory Cry (みんなで勝鬨)
Performers are subject to change.
All visitors raise a powerful victory cry (勝鬨, kachidoki) together with the performers of the Grand Warrior Procession.
- Time: 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM
- Location: Field Space
Kokoha Okuno (奥野 心羽) and Hana Kuramoto (倉本 羽菜) of SKE48 will also take part in the Grand Warrior Procession and Everyone's Victory Cry. Photography by the general public is prohibited.
Warrior Troupe and Ninja Troupe Stage (武将隊・忍者隊ステージ)
Warrior troupes and ninja troupes from across Japan gather to present powerful martial performances.
- Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:10 PM to 3:50 PM
- Location: Stage 1
- Performers:
- PRINCESS SAMURAI of JAPAN Aichi Sengoku Princess Troupe (あいち戦国姫隊), Aichi Prefecture
- Oshu-Sendai Omotenashi Group Date Warrior Troupe (奥州・仙台おもてなし集団 伊達武将隊), Miyagi Prefecture
- Oshi Castle Omotenashi Armor Troupe (忍城おもてなし甲冑隊), Saitama Prefecture
- Gifu Castle Enlivening Troupe (岐阜城盛り上げ隊), Gifu Prefecture
- Kiyosu Castle Warrior Troupe Kirameki-gumi (清洲城武将隊煌組), Kiyosu City
- Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Warrior Troupe (熊本城おもてなし武将隊), Kumamoto Prefecture
- Great Ieyasu-ko "Aoi" Warrior Troupe (グレート家康公「葵」武将隊), Okazaki City
- Shinshu Ueda Omotenashi Warrior Troupe Sanada Yukimura and the Ten Brave Warriors (信州上田おもてなし武将隊 真田幸村と十勇士), Nagano Prefecture
- Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Troupe® (徳川家康と服部半蔵忍者隊®), Aichi Prefecture
- Nagoya Omotenashi Warrior Troupe® (名古屋おもてなし武将隊®), Nagoya City
- Ninja Onmitsu Troupe (忍者隠密隊), Nagoya City
Armor Troupe and Warrior Troupe Stage (甲冑隊・武将隊ステージ)
Armor troupes from the Tokai region gather together, joined by warrior troupes from Gifu and Kyoto prefectures, to show off their gallant style. The martial performances and stage acts of each troupe are also highlights.
- Time: 12:40 PM to 3:30 PM
- Location: Stage 2
- Performers:
- Aichi Handmade Armor Support Juku (あいち手作り甲冑サポート塾), Toyoake City
- Inuyama Armor Troupe (犬山甲冑隊), Inuyama City
- Iwasaki Castle Swordplay Troupe (岩崎城刀劇隊), Nisshin City
- Okehazama Battlefield Preservation Society (桶狭間古戦場保存会), Midori Ward, Nagoya
- Kariya Castle Enlivening Troupe (刈谷城盛上げ隊), Kariya City
- Kyoto-Nagaokakyo Omotenashi Warrior Troupe Tsutsuji (京都・長岡京おもてなし武将隊つつじ), Kyoto Prefecture
- Kiyosu Castle Oda Retainers Tenka Fubu (清洲城織田家臣団天下布武), Kiyosu City
- Toki Takayama Castle Sengoku Warrior Troupe (土岐高山城戦国武将隊), Gifu Prefecture
Matchlock Gun Demonstration (火縄銃実演)
The thunderous sound echoes across the grounds, conveying the atmosphere of the Sengoku battlefield.
- Time: 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
- Location: Field Space
- Performers: Aichi Prefecture Old Firearms Research Society (愛知県古銃研究会) and Matsumoto Castle Matchlock Troop (松本城鉄砲隊), appearing for the first time
Smartphone Battle! Samunin Battle - The Battle of Odaka Ryokuchi (スマホで合戦！サムニン・バトル 〜大高緑地の戦い〜)
Within an event on the smartphone app TRAIN&TRAIN (トレイントレイン), players collect steps and visit checkpoints at and around the venue, aiming to gather more points than the opposing army.
- Participation fee: Free
- App download: https://www.traintrain.net/event/
Other Events
Stage 1
Tenka-ichi "Hideyoshi Conference" (天下一の「秀吉会議」)
Centered on "Toyotomi Hideyoshi" of the Nagoya Omotenashi Warrior Troupe®, warriors and ninja connected with Hideyoshi's life appear for discussions and a Q&A session.
- Time: 1:00 PM to 1:15 PM
- Performers: "Toyotomi Hideyoshi" of the Nagoya Omotenashi Warrior Troupe®, and warriors and ninja connected with Hideyoshi
Stage 2
Dance Stage and Sengoku Martial Performance Stage (ダンスステージ＆戦国演武ステージ)
Local warrior troupes present valiant and splendid martial performances, and Domatsuri teams (どまつりチーム) perform dances on stage.
- Time: 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
- Performers: Odaka Warrior Troupe Sengoku Show (大高武将隊戦国ショー), Midori Ward, Nagoya; Narumi Chamber of Commerce "Shojo" (鳴海商工会「猩々」), Midori Ward, Nagoya
Ninja Exercise (忍者体操)
A ninja exercise that gives everyone from children to adults a good workout. Visitors dance energetically together with the ninja troupe.
- Time: 11:45 AM to 12:00 PM
- Performers: "Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Troupe®" (徳川家康と服部半蔵忍者隊®)
Ninja School (忍者学校)
The ninja troupe becomes the teachers and opens a ninja school, where visitors can learn ninja knowledge that is surprisingly little known.
- Time: 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM
- Performers: "Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Troupe®" (徳川家康と服部半蔵忍者隊®)
Ashigaru Toma History Lecture (足軽の踊舞 歴史講座)
A history lecture by "Toma" (踊舞) of the Nagoya Omotenashi Warrior Troupe®. The easy-to-follow and entertaining talk is not to be missed.
- Time: 12:15 PM to 12:30 PM
- Performers: "Toma" (踊舞) of the Nagoya Omotenashi Warrior Troupe®
Ongoing Activities
Ninja Experience (忍者体験)
Visitors can try shuriken throwing, which is hugely popular with children, and try on ninja costumes.
- Time: 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Location: Stage 2 area
- Participation fee: Free
- How to join: Sign up on the day
Armor Try-On (甲冑試着体験)
Armor troupes offer an armor try-on experience.
- Time: 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Location: Booth Area
- Participation fee: Free
- How to join: Sign up on the day
Commemorative Photo Booth (記念フォトブース)
A photo booth where visitors can pose as ninja is set up to commemorate the event.
- Location: Stage 2 area
Booth Exhibits (ブース出展)
A variety of booths are set up, including tourism PR booths run by local governments, food and drink booths, warrior troupe, ninja troupe and armor troupe booths, and Sengoku merchandise booths.
- Location: Booth Area
Battlefield Quiz Rally (古戦場クイズラリー)
A quiz rally themed on historic battlefields is held at the venue. Everyone who answers correctly receives a prize such as dagashi (traditional Japanese snacks).
- Participation fee: Free
Event Website
https://samurai-ninja-fes.pref.aichi.jp/
Cancellation Notice
If the event is canceled due to severe weather or other reasons, an announcement will be posted on the event website by 8:00 AM on the day of the event, November 29.
Tie-In with Meitetsu Hiking
- Samurai & Ninja Festival 2026 is one of the highlights of the regular course "Feel the History! Samurai & Ninja Festival and Sake Brewery Tour Course" (歴史を感じる！サムライ・ニンジャ フェスティバルと酒蔵巡りコース) of "Meitetsu Hiking" (名鉄のハイキング), organized by Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (名古屋鉄道株式会社).
- On the day of the event, the first 500 people who show the digital coupon in "WEB Navi Meitetsu Hiking" (WEBナビ名鉄のハイキング) on the "Meitetsu CentX" (名鉄CentX) app at the venue will receive a novelty gift (a disposable eye mask). Available while supplies last.
- Novelty distribution location: Venue information desk (Wakakusayama lawn plaza, next to Stage 1)
For details on Meitetsu Hiking, see https://www.meitetsu.co.jp/hiking/railroad/.
