Suga Shrine Autumn Festival

About this event

Revered locally as "Goryo-san," this festival at Suga Shrine—where the deity was transferred from Kyoto Gion Goryo-gu during the Heian period—is designated as a Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Property. Held every year on October 8 and 9, the festival features rituals repeated on the way from Akiba Shrine at Minabe Beach toward Suga Shrine, characterized by 11 neighboring plain areas jointly holding an "owatari" procession. Highlights include the "Umakake" event, featuring the dynamic and impressive sight of horses galloping at full speed, as well as the Yabusame (horseback archery) ritual. Due to these elements, it is also known as the "Horse Festival" (Uma Matsuri). The combination of okasa parasols, Sumiyoshi drums, and the ceremonial three counterclockwise circuits around the shrine preserves festival forms from the Heian to Kamakura periods, leading to its designation as a Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property in March 2018. Known locally as the "Autumn Festival of Goryo-san," visitors can also enjoy floats (dashi) and lion dances.

Venue

Suga Shrine

242 Nishihonjo, Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama 645-0027