Imaicho's Autumn Festival (Imaicho Akimatsuri)

Held annually on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of October, the Imai Town Autumn Festival (Imaicho Akimatsuri) transforms the quiet, preserved Edo-period townscape into a burst of community energy and reverence.

This centuries-old tradition, centered around the local Kasuga Shrine, is a deeply meaningful event for the residents (Ujiko), who celebrate the harvest and pray for domestic safety.

The most dramatic sight is the parading of the floats: two historic Danjiri are pulled through the narrow, winding streets, requiring intense effort to maneuver past the delicate wooden machiya homes. This spectacle of power is complemented by the sacred procession of Mikoshi (portable shrines), which are vigorously carried and swayed, carrying the spirit of the local deity to bless every corner of the town.

This convergence of historic architecture and boisterous, time-honored ceremony offers visitors a rare glimpse into the authentic, living culture of one of Japan's most preserved districts.