The Sawara Grand Festival Summer Festival (Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival) and the Narita Gion Festival will be held on the same days this year for the first time in 11 years. To mark this special occasion, a collaboration stamp rally that takes visitors to both festival venues is being held.
Dates: Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026
About the "Hokuso Gion Festival Stamp Rally"
The two festivals, each with around 300 years of tradition — the Sawara Grand Festival Summer Festival (Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival) and the Narita Gion Festival — are being held on the same weekend this year for the first time in 11 years.
Katori City and Narita City sit next to each other in the Hokuso area of Chiba Prefecture. Both retain the nostalgic, traditional streetscapes Japan is known for, yet each has its own distinct character, and their festivals are one example of that difference.
Rather than having visitors choose one festival over the other, this stamp rally is designed to spark the feeling of "I want to see the other one too!" and to share the enjoyment of exploring the Hokuso area.
How to Participate (Free of Charge)
- Pick up a stamp card at either the Sawara Grand Festival Summer Festival or the Narita Gion Festival venue, and stamp either the left or right side.
- Head to the festival venue you haven't visited yet.
- Stamp the card at the second venue to complete it!
*Stamp cards are available in limited quantities, and the rally ends once they run out.
Dates
Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026
Stamp Card and Stamp Locations
- Narita Gion Festival: Narita Tourist Pavilion
- Sawara Grand Festival: Sawara Grand Festival Headquarters (Sawara Machinami Exchange Hall)
Stamp Rally Poster
Stamp Rally Flyer
