Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

About this event

This is the autumn grand festival held at Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, said to be the oldest shrine in Japan. The greatest highlight of this festival is the 'Otsunakake Shinto Ritual', designated as a Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property. From the top of a 45-meter-high giant sacred rock, a massive rope stretching approximately 170 meters is strung across and handed down to the Shichiri Mihama coast in a truly spectacular sight. It offers a precious opportunity to engage with local history and culture through an ancient, continuing Shinto ritual.

Venue

Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine

130 Arima-cho, Kumano, Mie 519-4325