Tokyo Festivals

SEPTEMBER 2023

All the schedules listed below are subject to change due to the outbreak of the coronavirus
(Please confirm information before you go at the phone numbers listed)

1	Fri	*Disaster Prevention Day - Memorial Service at Tokyo Memorial Hall
2	Sat	*Festival of Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine
3	Sun	*Festival of Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine
4	Mon
5	Tue
6	Wed
7	Thu
8	Fri
9	Sat	*Kichijoji Autumn Festival
10	Sun	*Kichijoji Autumn Festival
11	Mon
12	Tue
13	Wed	*Nogi Shrine Annual Festival
14	Thu
15	Fri	*Ushijima Shrine Grand Festial Sept. 15,16 and 17
		*Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Autumn Festival in Kamakura - Jinkosai Parade
16	Sat	*Ishioka-no-Matsuri in Ibaraki Prefecture Sept. 16,17 and 18
		*Ushijima Shrine Grand Festial Sept. 15,16 and 17
		*Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Autumn Festival in Kamakura - Yabusame
		*Akasaka Hikawa Shrine Festival Sept. 16 and 17
		*Nezu Shrine Annual Festival Sept. 16 and 17
		*Hagi Matsuri at Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden Sept. 16-Oct. 1
		*Tsurugi no Mai at Hikawa Shrine, Meguro
17	Sun	*Ishioka-no-Matsuri in Ibaraki Prefecture Sept. 16,17 and 18
		*Ushijima Shrine Grand Festial Sept. 15,16 and 17
		*Akasaka Hikawa Shrine Festival Sept. 16 and 17
		*Nezu Shrine Annual Festival Sept. 16 and 17
18	Mon	National Holiday - Aged People's Day
		*Ishioka-no-Matsuri in Ibaraki Prefecture Sept. 16,17 and 18
19	Tue
20	Wed
21	Thu
22	Fri
23	Sat	National Holiday - Autumn Equinox Day
		*Atago Shrine Annual Festival
		Tokyo Game Show at Makuhari Messe Sept. 23 and 24 for general public
24	Sun	*Atago Shrine Annual Festival
		*Kaichu Inari Grand Festival
		*Yaho Tenmangu Festival
		Tokyo Game Show at Makuhari Messe Sept. 23 and 24 for general public
25	Mon
26	Tue
27	Wed
28	Thu	*Moon Viewing at Mukojima Hyakkaen (Sept. 28-Sept. 30)
29	Fri
30	Sat

Disaster Prevention Day Memorial Service at The Tokyo Memorial Temple for Two Great Disasters (Great Kanto Earthquake and W.W. II Air Raids) in Ryogoku, Sumida-ku Memorial Service on from 10 a.m. with the attendance of the imperial family members Just two minutes before noon on September 1, 1923, the Kanto district was hit by a strong earthquake and immediately after the collapse of many buildings, a big fire raged with a strong wind on the urban area of Tokyo where most of the houses were made of wood. Due to the fire continuing for 42 hours, about 70% of the houses were reduced to ashes and 58,000 lives were lost. The site of the Temple was built at a vacant lot after the Army Clothing Depot had been removed to a new place. Someone cried among a flow of refugees, "Go to the former Army Clothing Depot and we shall be free from the fire." The large ground was occupied in a moment by numerous people with their baggages. A few hours later, the ground was enveloped in flames and 38,000 people missed a way to escape and burnt to death. On Septmber 1, 1930, the Memorial Temple for the Kanto Earthquake was built on this ground and enshrined the ashes of unidentified victims. The Temple changed its name on Sept. 1, 1951 to Tokyo Memorial Temple for two great disasters enshrining the victims of the Tokyo air raids in W.W. II as well. (from the memorial museum pamphlet) http://tokyoireikyoukai.or.jp/ Memorial Museum inside the compound exhibits pictures, photos and remains of the tragic scenes. Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed on Mon), Admission: Free Address: 2-3-25 Yokoami-cho, Sumida-ku Access: Ryogoku Station on JR Sobu Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cWPfH Telephone: 03-3622-1208		The Tokyo Memorial Temple for Great Kanto Earthquake and W.W. II Air Raids
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Ushijima Shrine Grabd Festival Sept. 15, 16 and 17, Sept. 17 will be the highlight of the festival. Ushijima Shrine in Mukojima, Sumidaku is a walking distance from Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree. The Grand Festival of Ushijima Shrine is held once in five years and this year 2023 is the grand festival year. Ushijima Shrine which is located in the northern end of Sumida Park is famous for its statue of "nadeushi" or "touching cow" which was built towards the end of the Edo period. It is believed that rapid healing happens by stroking an ailing area on your own body and then the same area on the cow's body. The fine wooden building and torii of the shrine survived the Great Kanto Earthquake and the W.W. II. Ushijima Shrine Address: 1-4-5 Mukojima, Sumida-ku Access: Asakusa Station on Subway Ginza Line/Asakusa Station on Tobu Sky Tree Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/EGsG8 Telephone: 03-3622-0973 (Ushijima Shrine)
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Annual Festival of Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine Sept. 2 (Sat) and 3 (Sun). On Saturday - From 1 p.m. Japanese drums, Mikomai, Ohayashi (2:20-2:50), Ryukyu Dance, Kagura from 4 p.m. etc. at the Noh Stage. On Sunday - The highlight of the festival. Over 20 town mikoshis enter the shrine one after another to from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ohayashi (3:30-5:20) Bugaku (ancient court dance and music) will be played from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine, the largest Shinto shrine in Setagawa Ward, is located in the midst of the high class residential area of Setagaya Ward. The impressive mikoshi festival at this shrine is supported by eight parishioners groups including groups composed of descendents of a large number of artisans who moved to this area after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 from the hard-hit downtowns of Tokyo. These people contributed greatly in laying a foundation of today's enthusiastic mikoshi festival of the shrine. Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine Address: 3-25-3 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku Access: 10 minutes walk from Shimokitazawa Station on Inokashira Line and Odakyu Line. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1nI3r Telephone: 03-3422-1370 (Kitazawa Hachiman)
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Kichijoji Autumn Festival The festival is held every year on the second Sat and Sun. in September.. Sept. 9 and 10 in 2023. Kichijoji's biggest event of the year - Kichijoji Autumn Festival (Aki Matsuri) of Musashino Hachimangu Shrine will be held on second Sat. and Sun. On Saturday, the shrine mikoshi leaves the shrine at 11 a.m. and parade the parishes while town mikoshis will be parading each district. On Sunday, the highlights of the festival, the shrine mikoshi and ten town mikoshis get together at Heiwa Dori Street in front of Kichijoji Station at 3 p.m. and parade the street in front of the train station. http://www.kichijouji.jp/event/akimaturi/ Address: 1-1-23 Higashimachi, Kichijoji (Musashino Hachiman Shrine) Access: Kichijoji Station on JR Chuo Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/BgqXL (JR Kichijoji Station) Telephones: 0422-22-5327 (Musashino Shrine)/ 0422-23-5900 (Festival Office)
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Ishioka-no-Matsuri The festival is on Sept. 16,17 and 18 Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture Ishioka no matsuri (Ishioka Festival) is a spectacular festival of the Hitachinokuni-Soshagu Shrine in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture. The festival is held for three days and over 400,000 spectators visit the city for the grand event. The festival is the leading festival of Ibaraki Prefecture and is known for its unique "horojishi" (hood shishi). Horojishi float is drawn by a man wearing a huge and vigorous shishi headgear. 13 dashi floats and about 30 horojishi floats entertain the visitors during the three festival period. Sept. 16: Jinkosai from 2 p.m., Sept. 17 :Hoshukusai: - Horojishi Parade from 3 p.m. and Dashi Parade from 6:45 p.m., Sept. 18 Finale of the festival from 2 p.m. (Highlight of the festival will be on Sunday). Ishioka no Matsuri Address: 2-8-2 Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture (Hitachinokuni-Soshagu Shrine) Access: Ishioka Station on JR Joban Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Zg0pS Telephone: 0299-43-1111 (Ishioka City Commerce and Sightseeing Department)
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Nogi Shrine Annual Festival Sept. 13 Every year the same day of the month. Akasaka, Minato-ku This year 2023 falls on the 100th anniversary of the shrine and special programs are planned. Details are to be announced. On September 13, 1912 on the day of the Emperor Meiji's funeral, General Maresuke Nogi (1849-1912) and his wife Shizuko committed ritual suicide in order to follow their emperor to the grave. He was one of Japan's greatest heroes until the W.,W.II. In Russo-Japanese War, he commanded the Imperial Army and took Port Arthur from Russia in 1905 but lost both his sons in the combats. Nogi Shrine was built in 1923 to his memory. The shinto ritual ceremony is held on the day of his death day on September 13th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. there will be a memorial service at the Aoyama Cemetery near the shrine where the Nogi family is buried. Cancelled for the year 2022. The residence of Gen. Nogi standing next to the shrine was built in 1902 in the style of the French army buildings that impressed Nogi so much during his student days in Germany. The residence is noticeably different from many lavish Meiji Period dignitaries' homes. It is extremely frugal for a general of those times - simple, unadorned befitting a soldier. Inside of the residence where he and his wife committed suicide is open to the public on September 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details are to be announced http://www.nogijinja.or.jp/ Address: 8-11-27 Akasaka, Minato-ku Access: Exit No. 1 Nogizaka Station on Subway Chiyoda Line. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/c0Svq Telephone: 03-3478-3001 (Nogi Shrine)
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Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Autumn Festival Sept. 15 and 16. The festival is held every year on the same days of the month. Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. In the 12th century, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo chose Kamakura as the seat of his shogunate. It was Japan's first military government. Kamakura remained the political center of Japan until the shogunate was destroyed in 1333. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was built by Yoritomo. Now, Kamakura is a prosperous seaside resort city and a popular sightseeing spot for its historical importance located not far from Tokyo. Highlight of the festival is a jinkosai parade on Sept. 15 1:30 p.m.Three ancient mikoshis accompanied by processions of shinto priests and people in ancient costumes. Yabusame (horseback archery) of Kamakura is on the 16th from 1 p.m. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Address: 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City Access: Kamakura Station on JR Yokosuka Line and Enoshima Dentetetsu Railway Map: http://goo.gl/maps/8g4Yw Telephone: 0467-22-0315 (Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine)
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Akasaka Hikawa Shrine Festival Sept. 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun) Akasaka, Minato-ku Details will be announced Aug. 1 in the shrine home page. Friday (Festival Eve) - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. One mikosh and a dashi float (Dashi float is cancelled if the weather is bad). Course: Hitotsugi Dori-Akasaka Mitsuke-Biz Tower-Nakano machi. Saturday - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Bon odori at the shrine Sunday, Jinkosai Parade - 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The parade starts from Hikawa Shrine at 10 a.m. with two floats and one mikoshi. http://www.hikawadashi.or.jp/ Address: 6-10-12 Akasaka, Minato-ku Access: Akasaka Stn. on Subway Chiyoda Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/RZcid. Telephone: 03-3583-1935 (Hikawa Shrine)
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Kasai Shrine Grand Festival Kanamachi, Katsushika-ku Grand Festival year in 2023., Sept. 17 (Sun) Shrine mikoshi leaves at 8 a.m.and parade the precincets. The shrine was founded in 1185 as a guardian shrine of the region. The shrine is located close by the Edogawa River which seperates Tokyo from Chiba Prefecture. The shrine is the head shrine of eleven towns in the region. It is believed Kasai Shrine is the origin of "Kasai Bayashi" traditional festival music played with "fue" (flutes), "kane" (gongs) and "taiko" (drums). Kasai Bayashi festival music is widely popular in Kanto district. The grand festival of Kasai Shrine is held every three years and one of the two shrine mikoshi parades the parish town leaving the shrine at 8 a.m.. This year 2019 falls on a major festival year and there will be grand parade of shrine mikoshi from 8 a.m. from the shrine. Major festival is held once in three years. http://kasaijinjya.world.coocan.jp/ Address: 6-10-5 Toganecho, Katsushika-ku Access: 15 minutes walk from Kanamachi Station on JR Joban Line. Telephone: 03-3607-4560 (Kasai Shrine)
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Menkake Gyoretsu (Mask Procession) at Goryo Shrine in Kamakura Sept. 18, 2:30 p.m... Every year the same day of the month. A parade of ten people wearing grotesque and humorous ancient masks of demon, goblin, okame and others is followed by a time-old mikoshi starting at 2 p.m. from the shrine. The parade takes place in honor of Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa, the enshrined deity of the shrine. A pregnant woman in mask is called Okame and it is believed if an expecting mother touches her stomach, she will have a safe childbirth. Kagura is performed before the event in the precincts of the shrine from 1 p.m. Address: 4-9 Sakanoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: 5 minutes walk from Hase Stn. on Enoden Railways Kamakura Goryo Shrine Map: http://goo.gl/maps/x2DxK Telephone: 0467-22-3251 (Goryo Shrine)
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Grand Festival of Kumano Shrine Sept. 16 (Sat) and 17 No shrine mikoshi parade this year. Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. This year falls on a minor festival year and the festival will be held in smaller scales . Sato Kagura (sacred dance and music) will be performed from 11 a.m. on both days and other entertainment on both days at night. Address: 2-11-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Access: 4 minutes walk from Tocho-Mae Station on Metropolitan Subway Oedo Line; 12 minutes walk from Nishi Shinjuku Station on Seibu Shinjuku Line; 19 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station. http://12so-kumanojinja.jp/ Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Cyv3o Telephone: 03-3343-5521 (Kumano Jinja)
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Annual Festival of Nezu Shrine Sept. 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun) Nezu, Bunkyo-ku. "Sanza-no-mai" on Sept.17 2 p.m.. Bunkyo-ward designated cultual asset kagura (sacred dance) will be performed from 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Kagura-den stage inside the precincts of the shrine. http://www.nedujinja.or.jp/ Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku Access: Nezu Station on Subway Chiyoda Line 10 minutes walk. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/uIiUO (A) Telephone: 03-3822-0753 (Nezu Shrine)
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Hagi Matsuri at Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden Sept. 16-Oct. 1 in 2023 Mukojima Hyakkaen in Sumida-ku was built in the early 19th century by a wealthy merchant of Edo, Sahara Kiku-u. Hyakka-en means A Hundred Flowers Garden. The garden covers little more than 2 acres but is intensely planted with trees, deciduous shrubs, flowering bushes and a tunnel of bush clover. Every year at this time of the season, the Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden invites everybody to spend a day to celebrate elegant autumn plant of Japan, Hagi (bush clover) for full blooming. The plant grow wild in fields and mountains throughout Japan. It has long been celebrated in Japanese culture as the first of the "SEVEN PLANTS OF AUTUMN" (aki no nanakusa). Other plants are Obana - Japanese pampas grass, Kuzuhana - Pueraria lobata, Nadeshiko - dianthus, Ominaeshi - Patrinia Scabiosaefoliak, Fujibakama - throughwort and Kikyo - Bellflower. Hagi reaches about 2 meters in height and has many thin branches. In the "MAN YOSHU" Japan's oldest poetic anthology, the hagi is one of the most frequently mentioned plants, appearing in 141of total 4516 poems.. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shin-nai Nagashi (Shamisen music) 11:30 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. on Sept. 16 (Sat) Tea Ceremony on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 500 yen URL: Mukojima Hyakkaen Access: Higashi-Mukojima Station on Tobu Isezaki Line from Asakusa. 10 minutes walk. or Hikifune Station on Keisei Line Closed on Mon. Admission: 150 yen. Telephone: 03-3611-8705
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Cosmos Flower Festival Good to see middle of September to November. The Park is opening. Visitors can enjoy cosmos flowers. Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa The huge national park was built commemorating the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa's reign in 1983 at the site of former U.S. Tachikawa AB. The park possesses 1.49 square kilometers (368 acres). Visitors to the park can enjoy a walk through forests and a walk over the spacious lawns while viewing beautiful flowering plants savouring the tranquility of nature. The huge natual park surprises visitors to wonder you are still in the greater Tokyo area. Bicycles are rented at the park. Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. from Nov.) Closed: 4 days a year - Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and the fourth Monday of Feb. and the following Tuesday. Admission: 400 yen for adult and 80 yen for children (6 to 15) http://www.showakinen-koen.jp/english/index.htm Address: 3173 Midori-cho, Tachikawa City Access: Tachikawa Stn. on JR Chuo Line 15 minutes walk. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Iy4VB Telephone: 042-524-1516 (Best time to see the cosmos flowers will be toward the middle of October)
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Moon Viewing at Mukojima Hyakkaen in Sumida-ku Sept. 28-Sept. 30 in 2023 (open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. during the moon viewing event) Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden was built in the early 19th century by a wealthy merchant of Edo, Sahara Kiku-u. Hyakka-en means A Hundred Flowers Garden. The garden covers little more than 2 acres but is intensely planted with trees, deciduous shrubs, flowering bushes and a tunnel of bush clover. Moon Viewing has long been a popular pastime in Japan. Especially on "Jugoya"the night of the full moon of the eighth month which was the 15th night (jugoya) of the month in the old lunar calendar. The Japanese adopted the Chinese custom of setting out melons, green soybeans, and fruits in the garden as offerings to the moon on this day. Jugoya is considered to be the harvest moon and is an occasion for thanks giving and partying. Sprays of susuki (eulalia) are displayed on the veranda and tiny skewered dumplings (dango) and vegetables are offered to the moon. Moon viewing is a common theme in Japanese poetry, particularly in waka and haiku. It ranks with snow viewing and hanami as the three most favored settings for declaration of love and poetic outpourings of the soul. (from Kodansha International Japan Encyclopedia) Shinobue flute performance by Mari Sakamoto on Sept. 28, 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Tea Ceremony will be on during the event.. Koto Music Performances during the event. URL: Mukojima Hyakkaen Access: Higashi-Mukojima Station on Tobu Isezaki Line from Asakusa. 10 minutes walk. or Hikifune Station on Keisei Line Closed on Mon. Admission: 150 yen. Telephone: 03-3611-8705
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Matsudo no Shishimai at Wanagaya Hie Shrine, Wanagaya, Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture Sept. 16 from 6 p.m. (Every year the same days of the month) In Matsudo City, they have three old shishimais designated as intangible cultural assets of the city. They are shishimais of Wanagawa, Kami Hongo and Ohashi. Of the three it is believed Wanagaya is the oldest.. The shishimai at Wanagaya was dedicated by the then bailiff Densuke Kurahashi to the shrine after the earthquake and the famin of Tenmei period (1781- ) hit the area. Script of the shishimai is not left today but as most of the shishimai in Japan are so, it is dedicated to the god for bumper crops and safety from the epidemics. Accesses: To Waganaya Hie Shrine - Get on a Shin Keisei Bus for Higashi Matsudo via Nyoraido from East Exit of JR Matsudo Station and get off at Nakadai/ To Kami Hongo Kazahaya Shrine - Kami Hongo Station on Shin Keisei Line from Matsudo and Meiji Shrine - Kita Matsudo Station on JR Joban Line/ To Ohashi Koroku Shrine - Get on a Keisei Burs for Koroku Shrine from West Exit of JR Matsudo Station. Telephone: 047-382-5570 (Matsudo City Education Dept.)
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Annual Festival of Hikawa Shrine in Meguro Sept. 16 (Sat), 17 (Sun) Every year on the third Sat. and Sun. Yakumo, Meguro-ku. There will be performances of time honored Tsurugi-no-mai (sword dance) in expression of the shinto legend of destroying the eight-headed monster serpent by shinto god Susanoo on Sept. 16 (Sat) from 10 a.m. at intervals during the kagura dances (sacred shinto dance) until 8 p.m. On 18 (Sun), there will be a joint parade of the seven town mikoshis from 5 p.m. starting from Tairamachi and visit the shrine at 6 p.m.. The shrine keeps the atmosphere of Japan's traditional tutelary shrine - the compound of the shrine is surrounded by the rich trees. Address: 2-4-16 Yakumo, Meguro-ku Access: 2 minutes walk from Toritsu Daigaku Station on Toyoko Line. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/mC0kf Telephone: 03-3717-1601
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Ohara Hadaka (Naked) Matsuri Sept. 23 at Ohara, Chiba Prefecture Shiofumi The festival enjoys the honor of the most valiant festival of the Kanto District by its stunning display of masculine strength. On the 23rd, eighteen mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried by thousands of "naked" men and wade them into the sea from 2:30 p.m. This is the climax of the festival and is called "shiofumi" (tide stepping). The ritual is a form of purification. The carriers shake, toss and sometimes submerge mikoshi into the sea. After the salty ritual, all the mikoshi parade on the shopping streets of the town from around 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. hadakamatsuri Access: Ohara Stn. on JR Soto-bo Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/C526M Telephone: 0470-62-1243 (Isumi City Sightseeing Department)
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Higan (Autumn Equinox Day) Sept. 23 (Sat) 2023 Higan literally means "the other shore." A seven-day period Buddhist memorial service is held twice a year, centering on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The higan rites are intended to help souls pass from the world of confusion to the world of enlightenment. This is the period of "haka mairi" or cemetery visiting. The whole family visits the family cemetery some time during the week. They sweep the compounds clean, and offer flowers and senko (incense sticks). Another important rite is to pour water over and around the tombstone. Then all kneel (crouch or bow) and pray, repeating Buddhist sutras. Higan is an important event even today. At temples or public cemeteries throughout Japan, memorial services are conducted for lost souls. It is also a time for family gatherings.
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A red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) is called Higan-bana (Higan flowers) since the plant put flowers in the middle of September near the day of Higan (the week of Buddhist services centering on the autumn equinox). The flower is also called "manjushage" which originates in sanskrit and appears in Buddhism scriptures. The root of the plant is poisonous. Address: 352 Kanegasaku, Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture Access: Tokiwadaira Station on Shinkeisei Line from Matsudo, 10 minutes walk. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/yhu7m Telephone: 047-387-1165 Admission: Free
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Annual Festival of Atago Shrine Atago, Minato-ku Sept. 23 and 24 This year 2023 falls on a minor festival year and there will not be a feature event of carrying mikoshis up and down the long and steep stone steps of the shrine. Grand festival comes once in two years. The shrine was founded in 1603 on the order of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and sits on top of Atago-yama (Mt. Atago) which is 26 meters above sea level yet the highest peak in any of Tokyo’s 23 wards. In the old day, people could enjoy a fine view of entire Tokyo but now obscured by high rise buildings. The amazing steep stone steps leading to the shrine - a flight of 86 stones, 40 degree stairs is caled “Shusse no Ishidan” (Stairways to Success). A legend tells young samurai in the 17th century Magaki Heikuro challenged to ride his horse successfully to the top to deliver plum blossoms to the shogun Iemitsu. http://www.atago-jinja.com/ Address : 1-5-2 Atago, Minato-ku Access: Kamiya-cho Station on Subway Hibiya Line. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3i3ek Telephone: 03-3431-0327
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The Grand Festival of Kaichu Inari Sept. 24 Musketeers will perform this year. Kaichu Inari Shrine in Shin-Okubo, Shinjuku-ku . The town is called "Hyakunin-cho" meaning 100 men town. The name of the town comes from a history that a troup of 100 samurai shooters and their families lived here to guard the shogun during the Edo period. In the major festival (once in two years) about the 150 musketeers gather at the shrine at 9 a.m. .on Sept. 22, Sunday and there will be fire ceremonial volleys with matchlock muskets and a parade of people in armored samurai style proceed from the shrine at 10 a.m. to Nishi Toyama Baseball Field where a mock battle will be held from 1 p.m. Address: 1-11-16 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku Access: Shin-Okubo Station on JR Yamanote Line. 2 minutes walk from the station. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Oaa3d Telephone: 03-3361-4398 (Kaichu Inari Shrine)
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Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri Sept. 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun) Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku Shinagawa was one of the 53 shukuba (post towns) of the Tokaido Highway connecting Edo and Kyoto during the Edo period (1603-1868) and Shinagawa was the first stop starting from Edo. There was a big licenced gay quarter in Shinagawa which was ranked as popular as that of Yoshiwara of Edo. On Saturday from 4 p.m., there will be a gorgeous Oiran Dochu parade starting from Kita Shinagawa along the Kita Shinagawa shopping street. On Sunday from noon there will be a parade of people in costumes of people in Edo period (1603-1868) and a fire walk at Shinagawa (Honsenji) temple from 1:30 p.m. http://shinagawa-shukuba-matsuri.com/ Address: Kita Shinagawa Shotengai, Shinagawa-ku Access: Kita Shinagawa Station on Keikyu Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/EtzhQ Telephone: 03-3472-4772 (Shinagawajuku Koryukan)
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Yaho Tenmangu Festival Yaho, Kunitachi Sept. 24 (Sun) Parade of Mando on Sept. 24 (Sun): 12 noon from JR Yaho Station to the shrine. The Yaho Tenmangu is a very old shrine. The foundation goes back more than one thousand years ago during the Heian period. The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane a great scholar. The shrine is little known to the citizens of Tokyo since it is located in the western suburbs of Tokyo at Hoya which is a small town in Kunitachi. The shrine building is old and fine in a spacious wooded compound. To my question why such a fine shrine is located at little known town of Hoya? A shrine priest explained to me today's people think the center of Kanto District has been at Edo (Tokyo) but before Shogun Ieyasu opened Edo shogunate at Edo (today' Tokyo), the center of Kanto province was for long at Fuchu not far from Kunitachi. The capital (Kokufu) of Musashi no Kuni (Kanto Province) was placed at Fuchu during the Nara period (710-894) and the area was the political and economic center of Kanto until Edo period and in those days, Edo (Tokyo) was a small fishing village. http://www.yabotenmangu.or.jp/ Address: 5208 Yaho, Kunitachi City Access: Yaho Station on JR Nanbu Line Map: http://goo.gl/maps/30KCr Telephone: 042-576-5123
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