Kibitsu Shrine: Year-End Purification & New Year's Eve Festival

About this event

Held every year on December 31 at Kibitsu Shrine, enshrined in Kibitsu, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, the "Oharae-shiki" (Grand Purification Ritual) and "Joyasai" (New Year's Eve Festival) are sacred Shinto rituals to cleanse the sins and impurities of the past year and welcome the new year. Oharae is performed once every six months, and the one on December 31 serves as the Year-End Oharae, concluding the year. Following Oharae, the Joyasai is performed, welcoming the new year in a solemn atmosphere. Kibitsu Shrine is also known as the stage for Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto's slaying of the demon Ura—considered the prototype of the Momotaro legend—and retains many historically valuable structures, including the National Treasure Main Hall (Honden) and Worship Hall (Haiden), as well as the corridor designated as a Prefectural Important Cultural Property. In particular, the corridor stretching roughly 360 meters undulating along the natural terrain offers a breathtaking view. On New Year's Eve, this corridor is illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere. In addition, the "Narukama Shinji" (Singing Cauldron Ritual) performed at the Okamadono within the precincts is a traditional ritual dating back to the Muromachi period that divines good or bad fortune by the sound of a steaming cauldron, and served as material for "Ugetsu Monogatari" (Tales of Moonlight and Rain). This ritual is also open for experience by reservation on regular days. Because the start time of the rituals is not listed on the official annual events webpage, inquiring at the shrine office is recommended. Furthermore, on December 28, the "Osusuharai-sai" (Soot Sweeping Ritual) to purify the shrine pavilions is also conducted. The new year continues with Saitansai on January 1, Yatate Shinji on January 3, and the Ebisu Festival from January 9 to 11.

Venue

Kibitsu Shrine

931 Kibitsu, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 701-1341