Chiba Shrine Summer Annual Festival: Myoken Taisai

About this event

This is the largest festival held every summer at Chiba Shrine, boasting a history of approximately 900 years. Long cherished as a wish-making Shinto ritual to deliver prayers to Myoken-sama, who is the deification of the North Star and the Big Dipper, it is also known as "Hitokoto Myoken." Legend has it that "if you pray sincerely for just one wish during the 7 days of the festival, it will come true." On the first day, August 16, the portable shrine (mikoshi) leaves the shrine and stays for a week at the temporary shrine (Okariya) at the foot of Mount Inohana, returning to the shrine on the final day, August 22. The festival lasts for seven days in reference to the seven stars of the Big Dipper, so that a wish can be made upon each one. The departure of the shrine (Miyadashi) on the first day begins around 12:40 PM, followed by a parade through the city. The arrival at the shrine (Miyairi) on the final day starts around 7:00 PM, featuring the powerful "Shoden-isame" performed by the bearers, followed by the "Mitama-gaeshi" ritual in which the divided spirit is returned from the mikoshi to the main hall. In particular, the period from Miyairi to Mitama-gaeshi on the final day bustles with many worshipers and is wrapped in a sacred atmosphere. Food stalls can mainly be enjoyed within the shrine grounds on the final day, August 22. The year 2026 marks a major milestone as the 900th edition.

Venue

Myoken Hongu Chiba Shrine

1-16-1 Innai, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Chiba 260-0018