Suwa Shrine Annual Grand Festival

About this event

Enshrined in Suwacho, Higashimurayama City, Tokyo, the Suwa Shrine Annual Grand Festival is a local traditional festival held every year on August 26 and 27. As a seasonal tradition marking the end of summer in Higashimurayama City, this festival is deeply cherished by local residents. During the festival period, festival music (ohayashi) and dedicatory dances are performed on the shrine grounds, and on the 27th in particular, festival floats and drums parade through the town, turning the entire neighborhood into a festival stage. The floats have a unique structure with detachable figures on top, and during the procession, the sounds of drums and festival music echo up close. During the dedicatory dance, participants can dance along to popular local tunes such as "Higashimurayama Ondo" and "Tamako Kouta," feeling a sense of unity with the community. Many food stalls line the grounds, offering classic festival foods. At night, dango (dumpling) tossing is sometimes held, attracting many visitors. Although the annual festival day is August 27, the festival takes place over two days, preserving locally rooted customs as a summer festival that can be enjoyed across generations.

Venue

Suwa Shrine

1-4-3 Suwacho, Higashimurayama, Tokyo 189-0021