Written by Aarohi Narain
Time travel to the era of Japan’s seafaring warriors.
What happens?
The Innoshima Suigun Festival honors Innoshima’s links to the Murakami Pirates, the naval clan that once commanded the Seto Inland Sea. Held in three parts across the year, it offers shifting moods, from solemn ritual to all-out competition.
The Island Festival recalls the pirates’ leaders, with samurai in armor re-enacting departure ceremonies, honoring ancestors, and performing a symbolic fire‑walking ritual.
After dark, the Fire Festival begins as warriors carry blazing torches along the beach to the beat of victory drums. Dancers perform the jubilant Chorakumai dance, and the night ends with a 15-minute fireworks spectacle.
Taking the action to the water, the Sea Festival features a kohaya small boat race. One of the main highlights of the festival, crews paddle replicas of the pirates’ swift wooden messenger boats in a high-energy one-kilometer sprint.
Schedule 2025
This year’s Innoshima Suigun Festival will run on separate dates to avoid the summer heat.
- The Sea Festival will take place on Sunday, August 31, from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Just under three weeks later, the Island and Fire festivals will be combined and held later, on Saturday, September 20, from 4:45 to 8:50 p.m.
How to get there
First, you’ll need to make your way to Onomichi.
At Shin-Osaka Station, take the Sanyo Shinkansen headed for Hakata, and get off at Fukuyama Station (about 1 hour). From there, switch to the San-yo Line headed for Itozaki, and ride to Onomichi Station (about 20 minutes).
From Onomichi Station, take the bus headed for Innoshima Port from platform 7. Ride for about 25 minutes (12 stops) and disembark at Innoshima Bridge. The main venue, Shimanami Beach, is about a 20-minute walk from there.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.