Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 道三まつり
• Dōsan Matsuri, the festival dedicated to Saitō Dōsan (Gifu)

History

The Dōsan Matsuri（道三まつり, Dōsan Matsuri）is a major spring event in downtown Gifu（岐阜市, Gifu-shi）, organized to honor Saitō Dōsan（斎藤道三, Saitō Dōsan）, a key figure of the Sengoku period（戦国時代, Sengoku jidai）and a driving force behind the development of the castle town in the region. The festival is part of the larger Gifu Matsuri（岐阜まつり, Gifu Matsuri）festivities, of which it is a "cooperative" manifestation (協賛, kyōsan): the idea is to enliven the entire downtown area, blending faith, historical memory, and popular energy.

Its history is modern: the festival was born in the early 1970s, in a context where the local population sought to revive cohesion and support the continuity of traditions while promoting Gifu’s identity. The official historical page recalls a significant trigger: the enthusiasm around the taiga drama（大河ドラマ, taiga dorama）Kunitori Monogatari（国盗り物語, Kunitori Monogatari）helped bring Dōsan back into the spotlight and gave popular momentum to the project. Today, the festival highlights the memory of the figure through a commemorative ceremony at Jōzai-ji temple（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）, considered a place closely linked to the Saitō lineage.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: downtown Gifu（岐阜市中心市街地, Gifu-shi chūshin shigaichi）with key moments at Jōzai-ji temple（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）and along main streets (notably Nagarabashi-dōri／長良橋通り, Nagarabashi-dōri).
• Address: 〒500-8017 岐阜県岐阜市梶川町9（Jōzai-ji／常在寺）.
• Date: generally the first Saturday of April and the following Sunday (4月第1土日, shigatsu dai-ichi do-nichi). Example: 2026: April 4 and 5.

Schedule

The Dōsan Matsuri（道三まつり, Dōsan Matsuri）takes place over two days, with a large-scale neighborhood festival atmosphere: stages and performances, stalls and markets, family activities, and especially major highlights that blend historical memory and matsuri culture（祭り, matsuri）. Visitors come as much to "feel" the city as to attend the ritual moments (protection, homage, prosperity, social bonding).

The weekend usually opens with the commemorative ceremony dedicated to Dōsan, the 追悼式（ついとうしき, tsuitōshiki）at Jōzai-ji temple（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）. Then comes one of the most spectacular highlights: the mikoshi parade, called 神輿パレード（みこしパレード, mikoshi parēdo）, where several portable shrines (神輿, mikoshi) and groups of carriers march through the central arteries, notably Nagarabashi-dōri（長良橋通り, Nagarabashi-dōri）. Around these moments, there are markets and activities such as Dōsan Ekimae Rakuichi（道三駅前楽市, Dōsan ekimae rakuichi）near the station, children’s areas Waku☆Waku Kids Event（わく☆わくキッズイベント, waku waku kids event）, and depending on the year, concerts, brass bands, and partner events in the shopping streets.

What makes the festival remarkable is the contrast between: solemn homage (temple, memory of Dōsan) and the festive power of the parade (shouts of the carriers, drum rhythms, dense crowd). The fact that the event "deploys" its scenes throughout the downtown area gives the impression of a city in celebration, ideal to experience by strolling from one point to another.

Practical Tips

Photos

For the mikoshi parēdo（神輿パレード, mikoshi parēdo）, aim for a spot along Nagarabashi-dōri（長良橋通り, Nagarabashi-dōri）with some distance: you capture better the density of the carriers and the energy of the procession. Arrive early to secure a place at the roadside, especially on Saturday. A 35 mm / 50 mm lens is perfect for human scenes, and a small wide-angle helps to capture the crowd. For the temple part, favor calmer images: details of offerings, lanterns, entrance of Jōzai-ji（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）.

Weather

Early April in Gifu can alternate between mild and cool weather, with a risk of showers. Bring a light warm layer (jacket) and comfortable shoes for long walking and standing. A poncho is often more practical than an umbrella in the middle of the crowd.

Transport

The easiest is to arrive via JR Gifu（岐阜駅, Gifu-eki）or Meitetsu Gifu（名鉄岐阜駅, Meitetsu Gifu-eki）and then do everything on foot between the areas (station, shopping streets, parks, parade routes). On the weekend, some roads are regulated: if you come by car, aim for a paid parking lot downtown and accept some walking. For Jōzai-ji（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）, city buses towards the Gifu Kōen area（岐阜公園, Gifu Kōen）can save time but may be crowded.

Visitor Tips

"Efficient strolling" plan: start early in the station area (stalls/activities), then move up towards the center and finish in the parade zone. If you want to see the commemorative part, visit Jōzai-ji（常在寺, Jōzai-ji）in the morning. To politely ask to pass through the crowd: すみません（sumimasen, "excuse me"）works everywhere. And if you hear "わっしょい"（wasshoi）, it’s the typical shout that carries the energy of the mikoshi!

What to Bring

Cash (many stalls), portable charger, poncho, small towel, walking shoes, possibly earplugs if you are sensitive to noise (drums, crowd). If you plan to buy souvenirs or brochures, a foldable tote bag is very useful.

Sources & References

• Event Introduction [Dōsan Matsuri]｜Gifu Matsuri Cooperative Dōsan Matsuri (Official)

  Most useful official page: period (first weekend of April), main areas, list of events and practical information (access, no dedicated parking, etc.).

• History of Dōsan Matsuri｜Gifu Matsuri Cooperative Dōsan Matsuri (Official)

  Historical context: origin of the festival in the 1970s, link with the taiga drama, place of Saitō Dōsan and connection with Gifu Matsuri.

• Gifu Matsuri Cooperative Dōsan Matsuri｜Gifu City Tourism Navi (Gifu Tourism Convention Association)

  Practical tourism sheet: reminder of the calendar "first Saturday of April + following day," perimeter, access, visitor information.