Gosendara Festival
Japanese name:ごせんだらまつり
📅 Thu, Dec 31, 2026 - Fri, Jan 1, 2027
About this event
A traditional fire festival held from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day at Irago Shrine in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture. Said to have roots in the primitive rituals of seafaring people who traversed the seas of Ise and Mikawa, this festival is a sacred event handed down from ancient times. At the climax of the festival, young men perform a dynamic and spirited dance around the blazing sacred fire, overwhelming onlookers with its heat and intensity. Worshippers purify themselves by being showered with flying sparks, praying for sound health, family safety, and bountiful catches in the new year. It is known as a heroic and mystical festival imbued with the prayers of local residents as they welcome the new year.
Source website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Irago Shrine
1407 Hotsuyama, Hiicho, Tahara, Aichi 441-3623
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