The common features in all mikoshi are the attached poles for people to use to shoulder the mikoshi but, depending upon the area, there are mikoshi with poles extending both in front and in the rear (nitenbo-style) or with poles extending on either side in addition to the front and the mikoshi (yontenbo-style).
担ぐための棒が付いているのは共通するが、前後にだけ付いたもの（ニ点棒）や左右にも付いたもの（四点棒）があり、本数もその地区により異なる。