Ontake Shrine Soreiden Grand Festival

About this event

At Ontake Shrine in Kiso Town, Nagano Prefecture, the Soreiden (Ancestral Spirit Hall) is established at Wakamiya, reverently enshrining the spirits of believers from across Japan. Every year over two days on October 23 and 24, the "Soreiden Grand Festival" is conducted at Wakamiya. This festival is hosted on a rotating basis by various branches of Ontake Honkyo, with the Tokyo branch holding it this year. On October 23, the "Shokon-sai" (Spirit Invocation Ritual) is held near Ontake Shrine Satomiya, gathering many believers from all over Japan to the Mitake area. In the past, local products were exhibited and sold on this day to entertain believers from nationwide. Ontake Honkyo amulets hanging along the paths can still be seen, reflecting the strong bond between the local community and Ontake Shrine. At Kakumei-sha in the Satomiya precinct, the spirits of ancestors are welcomed with a welcoming fire (mukaebi). On October 24, the "Goshi-sai" (Joint Enshrinement Ritual) is held: a procession of believers walks with a portable shrine (mikoshi) from Kakumei-sha to Ontake Shrine Wakamiya where the Soreiden is located, followed by Shinto rituals at Wakamiya. In this ritual, the joint enshrinement of spirits of newly deceased believers and the memorial service for previously enshrined believers are performed together as the "Goshi-sai." General visitors can also pay their respects at Ontake Shrine during the festival. In Ontake worship, this festival is based on the belief that one is born in Ontake and returns to Ontake, with the idea of erecting "Reijinhi" (spirit monuments) at the foot of Mount Ontake to comfort ancestral spirits. For believers who cannot build a monument, Kiso Ontake Honkyo established the "Soreiden" in Mitake and holds this annual memorial grand festival.

Venue

Ontake Shrine Kurosawa Wakamiya

Mitake Ontake Jinja Wakamiya, Kiso-machi, Kiso-gun, Nagano