Days and Places in Ehime Where Autumn Festivals Block Roads (2026): Traffic Restrictions and Temporary Parking for the Saijo Festival and Niihama Taiko Festival
For drivers in Ehime in October and November. A table of the dates, times and places of traffic restrictions, and the temporary parking, for the Saijo Festival (October 14-17) and the Niihama Taiko Festival (October 15-18), whose notices were on official city pages.
Summary
- City official pages had 2026 traffic restriction notices for 2 festivals only: the Saijo Festival and the Niihama Taiko Festival.
- The Saijo Festival runs October 14-17. The Saijo City map separates restricted roads by color: blue for the 15th, brown for the 16th and green for the 17th.
- The Niihama Taiko Festival runs October 15-18. Planned restrictions appear as red roads with times on the maps for the 16th, 17th and 18th.
- Both Saijo City and Niihama City say the restrictions may change depending on how the festival floats are running and other conditions.
- No 2026 traffic restriction notices were found for Matsuyama, Uwajima and other cities.
The Restriction Notices You Can Read on October 13, 2026 Are Maps From Saijo City and Niihama City
This article is based on the official city pages checked on October 13, 2026. For dates that had already ended by that day, “ended” is added.
The traffic restriction dates, times and roads were shown on maps for these 2 festivals.
| Festival | Schedule | Restriction notice |
|---|---|---|
| Saijo Festival (西条まつり) | October 14 (Wed) to 17 (Sat). The Kamo Shrine festival, October 10-11, has ended | Saijo City “Traffic restriction map” (fiscal Reiwa 8, 2026) |
| Niihama Taiko Festival (新居浜太鼓祭り) | October 15 (Thu) to 18 (Sun) | The map in the Niihama City operation schedule pamphlet “4Days” |
Both notices show the restricted roads and times as a map for each day. First, here are the cautions that both cities write in common, and how to read the maps.
- The Saijo City traffic restriction map says “交通規制については現場の警察官の指示及び道路標識に従ってください。” (For traffic restrictions, follow the instructions of police officers on site and the road signs.)
- Saijo City also says “交通状況・屋台等の運行コースの変更等により交通規制の延長・短縮をする場合があります。” (Traffic restrictions may be extended or shortened depending on traffic conditions, changes in the route of the festival floats (yatai) and so on.)
- The Niihama City map adds “※太鼓台の運行状況により変更する場合もあります。” (※ May change depending on how the taiko floats are running.) to each planned restriction.
- The Niihama Police Station page calls on people: “警察官や交通指導員等の行う現場の交通規制に従いましょう。” (Follow the traffic restrictions carried out on site by police officers and traffic guides.)
The times read from the maps are the numbers written for each road, copied into the tables. Check the original map for which road goes with which time. For changes on the day, ask the city tourism offices (Saijo City Tourism Promotion Division 0897-52-1690, Niihama City Tourism and Products Division 0897-65-1261).
Saijo Festival: October 14-17, Festivals of 4 Shrines in a Row
The Saijo City page (updated October 2, 2026) shows the Reiwa 8 (2026) schedule.
| Festival | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Kamo Shrine (嘉母神社) festival | October 10-11 (ended) |
| Iwaoka Shrine (石岡神社) festival | October 14-15 |
| Isono Shrine (伊曽乃神社) festival | October 15-16 |
| Iizumi Shrine (飯積神社) festival | October 16-17 |
The Saijo City map divides the restricted roads by color. In the legend, blue diagonal lines are “15th: vehicles prohibited from entering,” dark brown and light brown are “16th,” and green is “17th.” The map also says “全面駐車禁止” (parking fully prohibited) inside the map area.
October 14 (Wed): Day 1 of the Iwaoka Shrine Festival
The map legend has no entry for the 14th. The restriction for the 14th could not be read from this map. The schedule chart says that on the 14th, after the main hall ceremony at 9:30, each festival float (yatai) goes out.
October 15 (Thu): Around Iwaoka Shrine and Isono Shrine (Blue Roads, Planned)
Blue diagonal-line roads are drawn around Iwaoka Shrine and on the road north of Isono Shrine. The times written near the roads are as follows.
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15 (Thu) | 2:00-6:00, 14:00-19:00 | The road on the east side of Iwaoka Shrine | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 15 (Thu) | 12:00-14:00 | The road on the west side of Iwaoka Shrine, and a road near Marunaka (マルナカ) in Himi | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 15 (Thu) | 12:30-15:30 | The road connecting to the east of Shinbei Ohashi Bridge (新兵衛大橋) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 15 (Thu) | 11:00-13:00 | Roads from the west to the south of Himi Elementary School (氷見小学校) (the same time at 2 places) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 15 (Thu) | 1:00-7:00 | The road in Nakano, north of Isono Shrine (the map also gives 16:00-18:30 on the 16th at the same place) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 15 (Thu) | 1:00-7:00 | A “no crossing” mark near Kamogawa Bridge (加茂川橋) (National Route 11) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
The temporary parking for Iwaoka Shrine is described in the city’s FAQ: “西条西部公園の駐車場を臨時駐車場として開放しております。台数に限りがあるため、可能な限り公共交通機関でお越しください。” (The parking lot of Saijo Seibu Park (西条西部公園) is opened as temporary parking. The number of spaces is limited, so please come by public transport as far as possible.) The map also has a P mark at Seibu Park (15th).
October 16 (Fri): Main Festival of Isono Shrine (Brown Roads, Planned)
On the 16th, brown roads are drawn widely across central Saijo. In the schedule chart, the river entry (kawa-iri) is planned for 17:15. The city FAQ lists the river entry as a highlight and says many visitors come.
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 16 (Fri) | 1:00-8:00, 14:00-20:00 | The trackside west of Iyo-Saijo Station (伊予西条駅), and near Minami Junior High School (南中学校) and the Otabisho (お旅所) east of Kamogawa Bridge (the same time at 2 places) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 6:00-12:00 | The roads around Fuhaku Shrine (風伯神社) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 9:00-13:00 | The road east of Kohai Elementary School (神拝小学校) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 10:30-16:00 | Yokokuro (横黒) (east of Kita Junior High School), and a road running north from the east of Ichizuka (市塚) (2 places) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 12:30-17:00, 13:30-17:00, 13:00-17:00 | Roads east of Shimin Park (市民公園), north of Railway History Park (鉄道歴史パーク) and Omachi Elementary School (大町小学校), and east of Iyo-Saijo Station (the times are those written near each) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 1:00-8:00 | A “no crossing” mark near Kamogawa Bridge (National Route 11) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 16:00-18:30 | The road in Nakano, north of Isono Shrine | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 15:00-18:00 (planned) | Isonobashi (いそのばし) | 「西条まつり」屋台運行コース（令和8年度） |
About Isonobashi, the Saijo City page says this.
※いそのばしは15時～18時（予定：川入り終了後も、いそのばし西側の混雑が解消されるまで）の間通行止めになります。
Translation: “※ Isonobashi will be closed to traffic from 15:00 to 18:00 (planned: even after the river entry ends, until the crowding on the west side of Isonobashi is cleared).”
It also says “川入り終了後、いそのばしの西側東側が混雑しますので注意してください。” (After the river entry ends, the west and east sides of Isonobashi become crowded, so please be careful.) The city FAQ gives the place of the river entry as “near Isonobashi and Takejo Park (伊曽の橋・武丈公園付近)” and the time as around 17:15, adding that in most years it is later than the set time (around 17:20 in Reiwa 7, around 18:05 in Reiwa 6, and around 18:45 in Reiwa 5).
The FAQ describes the temporary parking like this.
加茂川左岸（加茂川橋付近・ファミリーマート西条加茂川店）へ目指してお越しください。
Translation: “Please head for the left bank of the Kamo River (near Kamogawa Bridge and FamilyMart Saijo Kamogawa store).”
The temporary parking is “all free” (全て無料). On the map, there are 3 places on the left bank north of Kamogawa Bridge, and also “free temporary parking” P marks near the JA Kanbe vegetable collection center (JA神戸野菜集荷場), the JA Ehime Mirai fuel center (JAえひめ未来燃料センター) and Trim Park (トリム公園) south of National Route 11. A P for “buses only” is drawn separately. A “no southbound” mark appears near the left-bank parking lots.
October 17 (Sat): Iizumi Shrine Festival (Green Roads, Planned)
On the 17th, green roads are drawn in Tamatsu (玉津), Kawaminami (川南), Higashinaka (東中), Modorikawa (戻川), Noguchi (野口) and Iioka (飯岡) around the Uzui River (渦井川).
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17 (Sat) | 14:00-19:00 | The roads around Iizumi Shrine (north of the Uzui River) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 13:30-17:00 | The road between Tamatsu Elementary School (玉津小学校) and Higashi Junior High School (東中学校) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 15:00-19:00 | The road south of Higashi Junior High School, going down from Modorikawa to National Route 11 | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 11:00-15:00 | South of National Route 11, Noguchi and Iioka | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 9:00-11:00 | The road east of Hachiman Shrine (八幡神社) | 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図 |
The FAQ says this about the temporary parking for Iizumi Shrine: “渦井川河川敷（両岸）を臨時駐車場として開放しております。台数に限りがあるため、可能な限り公共交通機関でお越しください。” (The Uzui River riverbed (both banks) is opened as temporary parking. The number of spaces is limited, so please come by public transport as far as possible.) The map says “東側から河川敷駐車場まで進入可” (you can enter from the east side up to the riverbed parking lot).
Saijo Festival Parking, and Guidance for People Coming by Car
The Saijo City FAQ guides the road from Matsuyama by car as “Matsuyama IC to Iyo-Saijo IC, about 50 km (about 35 minutes).” For National Route 11, it says “通行できます。一部規制がある場合がありますので詳しくは、「西条まつり」屋台運行コースをご確認ください。” (It can be used. There may be some restrictions, so for details please check the “Saijo Festival” float route.)
The temporary parking differs by shrine.
| Festival | Parking guidance in the city FAQ |
|---|---|
| Kamo Shrine festival (ended) | “ありません。公共交通機関でお越しください。” (There is none. Please come by public transport.) |
| Iwaoka Shrine festival | The parking lot of Saijo Seibu Park (limited spaces) |
| Isono Shrine festival | The general column guides to the left bank of the Kamo River (near Kamogawa Bridge and FamilyMart Saijo Kamogawa store). The Isono Shrine festival column says “all free” |
| Iizumi Shrine festival | The Uzui River riverbed (both banks) (limited spaces) |
The Isono Shrine festival column of the FAQ gives the distance from JR Iyo-Saijo Station to the river entry site as “about 1.5 km (about 20 minutes on foot).”
Niihama Taiko Festival: October 15-18, Planned Restrictions Are on the Maps for the 16th, 17th and 18th
The Niihama City page (updated September 29, 2026) carries the Reiwa 8 (2026) operation schedule pamphlet “4Days” as PDFs for each day. From the text on the cover, the festival is October 15 (Thu) to 18 (Sun). The pamphlet also has maps of bus, taxi and JR lines and of temporary parking for tour buses.
Callouts on the maps reading “planned traffic restriction” (交通規制予定) appear as pairs of a red road and a time.
October 15 (Thu): No Planned Traffic Restriction Was Found
The column for the 15th is guidance for the voluntary operation in the Ojoin (大生院) area and the taiko gathering at Uzui Plaza (渦井広場) (18:00-19:00), and no map is attached. A planned traffic restriction could not be read from this day’s column. If you drive in this area on October 15, check the guidance for the day on the city’s “4Days” page.
October 16 (Fri): Roads in Takihama and Tenjinhama, and Roads in Ojoin (Planned)
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 16 (Fri) | 17:30-21:00 | Roads near the venue of the night taiko in Ojoin and Nakahagi, Kusuri no Aoki Ojoin store (クスリのアオキ大生院店) (event 9 is 18:00-21:00) (red line on the enlarged map) | 4Days 10月15日・16日 |
| October 16 (Fri) | 15:00-17:30 | The old road (Kussaki to Ajima) (旧道（楠崎〜阿島）). East of Takihama Station, near Marine Road (event 8 is 15:30-17:10) | 4Days 10月15日・16日 |
| October 16 (Fri) | No time written | Tenjinhama-dori (天神浜通り) (event 10 is 18:00-19:20, event 14 is 19:30-20:30). A road extending north of Heiwa-dori | 4Days 10月15日・16日 |
The Niihama-higashi Port Ferry Terminal is north of the map, near Marine Road. It could not be read whether the red lines of the restriction on the 16th overlap the road to the terminal.
October 17 (Sat): 5 Places on Heiwa-dori and the Road in Yamane (Planned)
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17 (Sat) | 9:00-13:00 | Near Kokuryogawa Riverside Park (国領川河川敷公園) (event 18, 10:00-12:30), the road near Ehime Rosai Hospital (愛媛労災病院) | 4Days 10月17日 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 10:00-12:30 | Heiwa-dori (平和通り), in front of Ichinomiya no Mori (一宮の杜) (event 19, 10:00-12:00). West of Niihama City Hall | 4Days 10月17日 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 14:00-17:00 | West side of Heiwa-dori, near Wakurie Niihama (ワクリエ新居浜) (event 27, 14:30-16:30) | 4Days 10月17日 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 16:30-20:00 | In front of Takihama Station, Heiwa-dori (event 23 is 16:30-16:50 and 17:20-20:00, event 24 is 19:30-21:00) | 4Days 10月17日 |
| October 17 (Sat) | 11:30-17:00 | The road near Yamane Park (山根公園) (red line on the map; which road it is was read from the map). Event 20 at Yamane Ground (山根グラウンド) is 12:30-17:00 | 4Days 10月17日 |
The restriction at Yamane Ground is relevant for people heading to Mine-topia Besshi. Under the map there is an arrow “↓ Mine-topia Besshi.” Mine-topia Besshi is closed all day on Saturday, October 17, because of the local festival. Details are in another article, “From Niihama-higashi Port to Mine-topia Besshi.”
The parking and transport for the 17th are described in the pamphlet’s text as follows.
新居浜駅南口に臨時駐車場を設け、会場近くまでシャトルバス運行（無料）
Translation: “A temporary parking lot is set up at the south exit of Niihama Station, with a shuttle bus (free) to near the venue.”
会場近くの河川敷にも臨時駐車場（無料）
Translation: “There is also temporary parking (free) on the riverbed near the venue.”
The shuttle bus is a free service from the south exit of Niihama Station to Yamane Ground, and on the map it runs from about 10:30 to about 17:30. The Niihama City page also says “新居浜駅南口から山根グラウンドまで10時30分～17時30分までの間、随時運行” (runs as needed from the south exit of Niihama Station to Yamane Ground between 10:30 and 17:30). The map says the bus may be delayed by road conditions.
October 18 (Sun): Showa-dori, Around Hachiman Shrine and Around Ichinomiya Shrine (Planned)
| Date | Time | Place of restriction (position on the map) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 18 (Sun) | 8:00-12:00 | Part of Showa-dori (昭和通り), and the grid roads west of Motozuka (元塚) to its north (near the Oehama (大江浜) and Funamiyuki (船御幸) events) | 4Days 10月18日 |
| October 18 (Sun) | 13:30-20:00 | From near Ukishima Elementary School (浮島小学校) going east, passing near Hachiman Shrine (八幡神社) (event 31, 14:10-19:40), and going south along the east of Habu Elementary School (垣生小学校) | 4Days 10月18日 |
| October 18 (Sun) | 14:00-19:00 | Heiwa-dori, in front of Ichinomiya Shrine (一宮神社) (events 38 and 37). West of Niihama City Hall | 4Days 10月18日 |
For the Oehama kakikurabe (大江浜かきくらべ), the map of the 18th says “新高橋西詰南側臨時駐車場をご利用いただき徒歩でお越しください” (please use the temporary parking south of the west end of Niitakahashi Bridge (新高橋) and come on foot).
Niihama City’s Temporary Parking for Tour Buses
The Niihama City PDF “Temporary parking for tour buses” shows on a map the places of temporary parking for October 16-18 and the bus drop-off at Yamane on October 17. It is titled for tour buses, and it does not say whether private cars or rental cars can use it.
Route Buses Change Their Route From Showa-dori to Miyakita-dori on the 17th and 18th
On the map in the pamphlet “Bus, taxi and JR lines,” a callout titled “bus operation” has this sentence.
17・18日は昭和通りを宮北通りに路線変更して運行
Translation: “On the 17th and 18th, the buses run with the route changed from Showa-dori to Miyakita-dori (宮北通り).”
If you plan to drive on Showa-dori on the 17th and 18th, check this change together with the restrictions of the 18th above (Showa-dori and the road west of Motozuka).
Relation to Another Article
The article on Besshi Copper Mine, “From Niihama-higashi Port to Mine-topia Besshi,” also introduces the planned traffic restriction in Yamane on October 17 (11:30-17:00).
Festivals Whose Restriction Notices Could Not Be Found
On the following city pages, no 2026 traffic restriction notice was found.
- The Matsuyama City “Festivals and events (autumn festivals)” page was updated on October 23, 2025, and still carries the Reiwa 7 event schedule.
- The Uwajima City “Autumn Festival of Uwatsuhiko Shrine (宇和津彦神社)” page was updated on October 22, 2021, and says the festival is held every year on October 29. The “Nationally designated Yoshida Festival procession” page (updated March 28, 2025) introduces the Goko festival (御幸祭) on November 3, but has no mention of traffic restrictions.
- The Shikokuchuo City “Autumn festivals of Shikokuchuo 2024” page is a page for the 2024 schedule.
- For Saijo City’s Toyo Autumn Festival (the joint operation, October 10, has ended), Tanbara Autumn Festival (joint kakikurabe on October 15) and Iyo-Komatsu Festival (Ishine district October 14-16, Komatsu district October 16-17; the kagura on October 10-11 has ended), only the schedules are given, with no mention of traffic restrictions.
If you plan to drive on the day of these festivals, ask the tourism office of each city or the local police station.
Sources
- 「西条まつり」のご案内 - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 「西条まつり」屋台運行コース（令和8年度） - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年度 西条まつり交通規制案内図（西条市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年度 西条まつりスケジュール・運行コース（西条市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 「西条まつり」 よくある質問（FAQ） - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 新居浜太鼓祭り - 愛媛県新居浜市ホームページ｜四国屈指の臨海工業都市 (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年（2026年）新居浜太鼓祭り 4Days 10月15日・16日（新居浜市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年（2026年）新居浜太鼓祭り 4Days 10月17日（新居浜市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年（2026年）新居浜太鼓祭り 4Days 10月18日（新居浜市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年（2026年）新居浜太鼓祭り 4Days バス・タクシー・JR路線（新居浜市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 令和8年（2026年）新居浜太鼓祭り 観光バス臨時駐車場（新居浜市、PDF） (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 新居浜警察署 - 新居浜太鼓祭り - (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- まつり・イベント（秋のまつり） 松山市公式ホームページ PCサイト (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 宇和津彦神社の秋祭り - 宇和島市ホームページ ｜ 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町 (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 国指定 吉田祭のお練り行事 - 宇和島市ホームページ ｜ 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町 (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 【重要】10月17日(土)全館臨時休業のお知らせ | マイントピア別子 (retrieved October 13, 2026)
- 四国中央市の秋まつり2024 - 日本一の紙のまち～四国中央市～ (retrieved October 13, 2026)