Dake Matsuri Festival

About this event

This is a festival praying for a bountiful harvest, honoring "Haho Shrine" enshrined atop Mount Shiragin in Nishi-Yoshino-cho, Gojo City. The festival is called "Dake Matsuri". First, the main shrine ceremony is held in the morning, followed by a meal with the deities called "Naorai". When the Naorai finishes, the procession (Owatari), the festival's biggest event, begins. In the procession, a group carrying iron staves, banners, halberds, and other items departs from Haho Shrine, while a procession of people from the Touya district departs from Hachioji Shrine on Mount Shiragin. These processions merge at a torii gate along the way and walk to the "Otobisho" (resting place). In the past, the sacred object was transported on a portable shrine (mikoshi), but currently, due to a shortage of bearers, the mikoshi is for display only. Upon arriving at the Otobisho and finishing the offerings, they return to Haho Shrine again, and the Touya handover takes place. There is also lively entertainment such as lottery stalls.

Venue

Haho Shrine

176 Yonaka, Nishiyoshino-cho, Gojo, Nara 638-0662