Hirakiki Shrine Hoze Festival

About this event

Held annually from October 14 to 16 at Hirakiki Shrine in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the 'Hirakiki Shrine Hoze Festival' is a traditional festival featuring a procession of sacred palanquins (mikoshi) led by a ritual children's procession (chigo gyoretsu). According to shrine records, Hirakiki Shrine dates back to the age of the gods and has been deeply revered since ancient times as the Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Satsuma Province by the Imperial Court, the Shimazu clan, and the Ryukyu King. While the main annual festival day is October 15, festivities take place from the 14th to the 16th, during which sacred rituals and performing arts are dedicated, including sacred dance offerings (Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto dance and Kishin dance) on the 14th and the Goshinko-sai (divine procession festival) on the 16th. This festival is one of Ibusuki City's representative traditional events, deeply reflecting the history and culture of the region.

Venue

Hirakiki Shrine

1366 Kaimonjutto, Ibusuki, Kagoshima 891-0603