Ichida Shrine Akiba Fire Festival

About this event

Held in Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture, the 'Ichida Shrine Akiba Fire Festival' is a traditional festival held annually on the second Saturday of September, where sacred fire is dedicated from Ichida Shrine to Akiba Shrine on Mount Akatsuka to pray for local fire safety. It was formerly known as the 'Mushiokuri Fire Festival' to drive away rice pests. The festival begins at 6:00 PM with purification rites (shubatsu) and ceremonies at Ichida Shrine, and the sacred fire is transferred to lanterns and carried to Tenno Bridge where parishioners wait. There, the sacred fire is transferred to large straw torches about 3 meters tall with bamboo cores, and a torchlight procession led by the chief priest proceeds toward the summit of Mount Akatsuka about 1 kilometer away. Upon arrival at Akiba Shrine at the summit, the torches are collected in one place, and a ritual for protection against fire disasters is performed to conclude the festival. Children also participate carrying small torches, enlivening the festival atmosphere.

Venue

Ichida Shrine

9 Miyata, Ichidacho, Toyokawa, Aichi 442-0862