The Hachiman Festival is a traditional event with more than a thousand years of history, starting from when Hidetsugu Toyotomi founded the town.
The festival takes place over 2 days, April 14 and 15 each year. April 14 is the eve of the festival, known as the Torch Festival, and has been selected as a national Intangible Folk Culture Asset. More than 30 torches are lit, including one over 10m, and the grandeur of them against the spring night, accompanied by a barrage of fireworks, is truly a sight to behold.
April 15, the main festival, sees a performance by large drums carried into the temple from across the region.
When compared to the grandeur of the Torch Festival from the night before, the main day features a more solemn atmosphere, and is also known as the Drum Festival.

[Day Held]April 14 Fire Offering 20:00 - (until around 23:00), April 15 15:30 - (around 19:00)
[Location Held]Himure Hachimangu Shrine, 257 Miyauchi-cho, Omi-Hachiman City, Shiga
[Access]10 min. on bus from JR Omi-Hachiman Station, alight at the "Osugi-cho" bus stop
[URL]http://en.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/160