The largest festival in Mikawachi, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, is known as Mikawachi Okunchi. Its name originates in the fact that kunchi means “day 9”; in ancient China odd numbers were considered auspicious, so the largest single-digit odd number 9 was selected for festival dates. The Nagasaki Kunchi festival, held on the 9th day of the 9th month of the old calendar, is well known; Mikawachi was formerly part of the Hirado Domain and so brought its festival date in line with Hirado Kunchi in late October.

At festival time, sacred ropes are hung all around the streets where the deities pass through the Mikawachi pottery-producing region. On the eve of the main festival shrines hold religious services and the Hirado Kagura (Shinto dance and music) is performed. On the main festival day there is a religious service, kagura dancing, and sea bream, pink-and-white rice cakes, and agricultural products are offered to the gods. A lively procession parades around the area, the central palanquin transporting the deity accompanied by sword-bearers, comedians, festival floats and dancers. Prayers are offered at all large and small shrines en route, local representatives pay their respects at the shrine, special presentations of kagura and dance take place, and the deities are returned to their resting place on the same day.