Shimizu Akibasan Grand Festival

About this event

With a history spanning more than 400 years, the "Shimizu Akibasan Grand Festival" is a major festival dedicated to Mt. Akiba, deity of fire prevention. Held every year on December 15 and 16, stalls line the approach and surrounding roads, bustling with tens of thousands of worshippers. On the 15th, a matoi (firefighter standard) procession by local fire brigades is conducted, where firefighters dressed in Edo-period fire-brigade attire parade approximately 1 kilometer from Tsujimachi, Shimizu Ward, to the main hall on the mountain. On the night of the 16th, following mountain ascetics (yamabushi) and officials, general participants also take part in a fire-walking ritual (hiwatari), walking barefoot over live coals. This fire-walking is considered a sacred rite to ward off evil and purify body and soul. In the past, the festival was held on November 16, but is now held on December 15 and 16 according to the solar calendar. While the bamboo-snatching contest has no basis as a religious rite—having begun from the fervor of intoxicated crowds—bringing home bamboo is now said to bring the blessing of household safety.

Venue

Minemotoin Temple

Akibasan Honbo Minemotoin, 1-1-14 Nishikubo, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 424-0038