Toshikoshi no Oharaeshiki and Joyasai New Year's Eve Festival

About this event

At Kashima Jingu Shrine, the Toshikoshi no Oharaeshiki, a Shinto ritual to purify the sins and impurities of the past year, and the Joyasai, a festival to give thanks for safety in the passing year and pray for peace and growing prosperity in the coming year, will be held. In the Toshikoshi no Oharaeshiki, priests and attendees receive purification at the Harai-do before gathering at the ritual site in front of the main hall to recite the Oharaekotoba. Attendees rub their bodies with paper doll effigies (hitogata) and blow their breath onto them to transfer their sins and impurities, after which the doll effigies are floated down the Mitarashi River for purification. The Joyasai is held immediately following the Oharaeshiki and is an important ritual for purifying both body and mind to welcome the new year with a serene spirit. It is an auspicious ritual suitable for concluding the year, bustling with many worshippers.

Venue

Kashima Jingu Shrine

2306-1 Kyuchu, Kashima, Ibaraki 314-0031