Kinro Shrine Autumn Festival

About this event

This is the annual grand festival (autumn festival) of Kinro Shrine, where dedications such as lion dances (shishimai) are performed. The festival features the O-kudari and O-nobori processions between Kinro Shrine and Shingu Shrine in Kashima-shinmachi. On the return journey, horses follow behind the portable shrine (mikoshi), and visitors can see the horses and mikoshi vying with each other to enter the presence of the deity first. Afterward, the horses gallop around the shrine pavilion multiple times, a ritual called 'Umakake.' The 'Tsurugi-tsuki' (sword play) dance performed alongside the vanguard lion dance is also a distinctive Shinto ritual and traditional folk performing art of this festival.

Venue

Kinro Shrine

1939-1 Notomibun, Kashima, Saga 849-1312