Hachiman Shrine Gun Festival (Teppo Matsuri)

About this event

This is a valiant Shinto ritual held every year on the second Sunday of December and the preceding day at Hachiman Shrine in Iida, Ogano Town, Saitama Prefecture. As an event that closes out the year in the Chichibu region, it is counted as one of the 'Three Chichibu Festivals (Chichibu San-machi)'. The biggest highlight of the festival is the 'Otachi' ritual, where two sacred divine horses sprint up the stone steps in front of the shrine pavilion all at once, following attendants dressed in feudal lord procession (daimyo gyoretsu) costumes, while local hunters fire guns from both sides of the approach. The sight of white smoke rising alongside a roaring boom is breathtaking, drawing loud cheers from the packed crowd. On the first day (eve festival), starting with shrine visits by festival officials, yatai kasaboko floats are paraded around, and traditional Ogano Kabuki is performed. On the following day's main festival, Shinto rituals and accompanying festive rites are conducted, with Kabuki dedicated on festival floats and Kagura sacred dance performed at the Kaguraden stage. Furthermore, in the Kawase ritual, a portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried and lowered to the Hachimanbuchi abyss upstream along the Akahira River where the sacred deity is enshrined. The festival concludes with an offering of launched fireworks. The gorgeous Kasaboko parading through the mountains and the sounds of drums and flutes playing Chichibu Hayashi music also add glamour to the festival, letting visitors experience a sense of unity between local faith and pride.

Venue

Iida Hachiman Shrine

2756 Iida, Ogano-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama 368-0111