Nishinomiya Shrine Susuharai Matsuri (Year-End Purification Ritual)

About this event

The Susuharai Matsuri, held as an annual year-end Shinto ritual at Nishinomiya Shrine, is a ceremony in which Shinto priests dressed in white robes, hakama, and face coverings clear soot from the main shrine hall using specially made large dusters crafted from bamboo grass measuring about 4 meters in length. After a Shinto prayer offering gratitude for the year's safety is recited at 10:00 AM, the priests meticulously dust and purify not only the interior of the main hall, but also pillars and walls near the ceiling that are not normally cleansed. This is an important ritual for maintaining the sacred space in a clean and pure state in preparation for welcoming the New Year.

Venue

Nishinomiya Shrine

1-17 Shake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-0974