Ookunitama Shrine Sumomo Festival 2026 in Fuchu, July 19-20
Overview of the Sumomo Festival 2026
The 2026 Sumomo Festival will be held over two days — Sunday, July 19 and Monday, July 20 — at Okunitama Shrine, located at 3-1 Miyamachi, Fuchu City.
As a pre-festival event, the fair stalls open from the evening of Saturday the 18th, and for three days the shrine approach and precincts are enveloped in a summer festival atmosphere.
The greatest highlight is the rows of plum (sumomo) stalls lining the approach, where visitors bustle to purchase in-season plums piled in boxes and baskets.
There are also plenty of stalls for goldfish scooping, target shooting, yo-yo fishing, shaved ice, and yakisoba, and sacred events and ceremonies are held including a children's procession (chigo gyoretsu), a portable shrine parade (mikoshi togyō), and festival music (matsuri-bayashi) performances.
The Background of a Tradition Over 1,000 Years Old
Okunitama Shrine is an ancient shrine known as the chief shrine (sōsha) of the old Musashi Province; its founding is said to date to the 41st year of Emperor Keikō's reign (111 AD).
The principal deity is Okunitama no Ōkami, revered for blessings including matchmaking, warding off evil, prosperous business, and the protection of agriculture.
The origins of the Sumomo Festival trace back to the Heian period, when it is said to have begun with warriors and generals offering plums as a gift of thanks for answered prayers for victory in battle or protection from evil.
Plums were regarded as a fruit that dispels evil, and were treated as sacred offerings.
During the Edo period the shrine also received the reverence of the Tokugawa shogunate family, and it became known as one of the representative sacred events of the Tama region alongside the Kurayami Festival; it also gathered faith as a festival for healing eye ailments and praying for women's health.
How to Enjoy the Sumomo Festival
First and foremost, purchasing domestically grown, in-season plums from the stalls along the approach is recommended — they are available in various formats including by the pack, by the box, and as single-piece tastings.
Popular stalls can sell out in the afternoon, so arriving in the morning when selection is at its best is the smart move.
Within the shrine precincts, sacred ceremonies such as the children's procession and portable shrine parade are held, giving visitors an up-close view of children in brilliantly colored attire and the powerful spectacle of the mikoshi procession.
From the pre-festival evening onward, classic fair games such as goldfish scooping, super ball scooping, target shooting, and ring toss are available, along with festival food including shaved ice, takoyaki, grilled corn, and chocolate bananas.
Tips for Avoiding the Crowds
The peak of the crowds is from late morning through the evening of Sunday the 19th, when the approach fills with people and long queues form at the plum stalls.
For a more relaxed visit, the morning of Sunday the 19th or the morning of Monday the 20th (Marine Day holiday) is recommended.
During peak times the crowd spreads from the shrine precincts all the way to the area around Fuchu-Honmachi Station, so it is advisable to allow extra time for travel.
Crowd management tips include: arriving early before 10:00 AM; comparing the queue lengths at the multiple plum stalls before joining one; buying drinks in advance; and considering walking toward Keio Line Fuchu Station as an alternative to the congested JR Fuchu-Honmachi Station on the way home.
Access and Transportation
The nearest station is JR Nanbu Line "Fuchu-Honmachi Station," only about a 3-minute walk north from the ticket gates — an extremely accessible route with few steps, making it easy to visit with children or strollers.
From Keio Line "Fuchu Station," you can walk east along the old Koshu Highway from the south exit for about 15 minutes, or take a bus and alight at "Okunitama Jinja-mae."
From JR Chuo Line "Kunitachi Station" or "Tachikawa Station," the typical route is to transfer to the Nanbu Line and head to Fuchu-Honmachi Station.
During the festival period the surrounding roads become congested and traffic restrictions may be in place; coin parking lots also tend to fill up quickly, so it is advisable to avoid driving if at all possible.
Exploring Nearby Attractions
About 1.5 kilometers west of Okunitama Shrine lies Fuchu no Mori Park, a lush park with wide lawns and sports facilities — a perfect spot to rest before or after the festival.
From Fuchu-Honmachi Station it is also about a 10-minute walk to the Tama River embankment, where you can stroll along the riverside promenade and enjoy the cool breeze.
Near the station is Tokyo Racecourse, home of the Japan Derby and other races; outside of race days part of the venue can be enjoyed free of charge, though on days when races are held both JR and Keio Line trains become even more crowded.
Furthermore, the "Furusato Fuchu Rekishikan" (Fuchu History Museum) near Okunitama Shrine offers free admission to exhibits on the Musashikokufu ruins and Okunitama Shrine, where visitors can deepen their understanding of the historical background of the Sumomo Festival.
The Start of Fuchu's Summer at Okunitama Shrine
The Sumomo Festival is a milestone event that marks the beginning of summer for Fuchu residents — a community-rooted festival held just before summer vacation, where everyone from children to adults gathers together.
The sight created by over 1,000 years of faith intertwined with the plum stalls of the approach and the fairground creates the original landscape and identity of the city of Fuchu.
While it lacks the flashiness of a large-scale tourist attraction, the warm atmosphere — where local people naturally come together to share summer moments across generations — is its true charm.
On July 19 and 20, 2026, you can experience the start of Fuchu's summer in your own way, savoring plums along the approach to Okunitama Shrine.