2026 Ushikura Shrine Annual Grand Festival

About this event

The 'Ushikura Shrine Annual Grand Festival', one of the Three Great Festivals of Gunai, will be held. This festival gives thanks to the five deities of agriculture who bring the autumn harvest and has enjoyed the deep devotion of local residents since ancient times. The festival is held over three days, and on the first day, portable shrines (mikoshi) from each district parade through the area. On the second day, festival floats from Shinmachi and Honcho parade, and festival music (matsuri-bayashi) is performed. The festival music of Honcho is said to have originated in the 1890s (Meiji 20s) when a private fire brigade took the lead in inviting a master from Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, to receive instruction. The basic repertoire consists of six tunes: Yatai, Shoden, Kamakura, Kandamaru, Shichome, and Imba. Imba is particularly popular, featuring Okame, Hyottoko, and Bakamen mask characters performing comical dances. Additionally, on the second and third days, various stalls line the shrine grounds, bustling with many people every year throughout all three days. Highlights of the festival include the parade of portable shrines from each district, the procession of floats from Shinmachi and Honcho, and the diverse stalls lining the shrine grounds. Please be sure to visit this traditional festival.

Venue

Ushikura Shrine

1602 Uenohara, Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi 409-0112