Kuchi Hachimangu Annual Grand Festival

About this event

The "Kuchi Hachimangu Annual Grand Festival," held in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, is a traditional festival jointly conducted by three settlements. Toto is dedicated from the Nozaki district, and the Hanagasa Dance, a prefecture-designated cultural property, is dedicated from the Jiyokoshi district. The Ondeko (demon drumming) of the Shimonikuchi district, which makes door-to-door visits from early morning, also stops by the shrine to enliven the festival. Highlights of the festival feature the Mikoshi Togyo (portable shrine procession), Yabusame (horseback archery), and a procession of Sagariha by children, creating a traditional, classical atmosphere. At the night festival, Shinto rituals such as Kagura and Daikokumai are conducted, and at the regular festival on the following day, Hanagasa Dance, Toto, Sagariha, Shiokumi, Ondeko, Mikoshi Togyo, and Yabusame are dedicated. This festival is known as a valuable traditional event preserving the vestiges of medieval festival rituals.

Venue

Kuchi Hachimangu Shrine

Shimonikuchi, Sado, Niigata 952-3424