Hagiwara Tenjinsha Summer Grand Festival

Hagiwara Tenjinsha Summer Grand Festival: An Invitation to a Traditional Japanese Matsuri
Held every summer in Oita City, the Hagiwara Tenjinsha Summer Grand Festival is a fantastic event where you can experience the vibrant energy of traditional Japanese culture and community. Here is an introduction for foreign visitors to the highlights of this charming festival.

What kind of festival is it?
The Hagiwara Tenjinsha Summer Grand Festival is a prestigious festival with a history stretching back nearly 300 years. It is said to have begun in 1753 and is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Oita City. The festival's most distinctive feature is the "Ningyo Gyoji," or doll event. Elaborate floats called dashi, which are adorned with exquisite dolls depicting historical figures and tales, are paraded through the town.

Highlights
・The Heroic Dashi Float Parade: 
Witness the breathtaking procession of colorful dashi floats, each uniquely crafted by a different neighborhood. The sight of these floats being pulled through the streets by local residents to the sound of powerful chants is truly impressive.
・Mikoshi Procession: 
A sacred portable shrine, or mikoshi, believed to carry the deity, is shouldered by a large group of people and paraded through the town to purify the area. The miya-iri, the moment the mikoshi returns to the shrine, is a particularly energetic climax of the festival.
・Traditional Kagura Performance: 
At the shrine, traditional music and dance known as kagura are performed as an offering to the gods. The elegant yet powerful dances will draw you into the world of Japanese mythology.
・The Sounds of Chikirin and Taiko: 
Throughout the festival, the town is filled with the distinctive festival music of the chikirin and the powerful beat of taiko drums. Hearing these sounds is the best way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a Japanese festival.
・Magical Night Views: 
As evening falls, the many lanterns lining the shrine's approach and grounds are lit, creating a magical and fantastic atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the daytime festivities.

Tips for Attending
・Dates: 
　August 22nd (Friday) & August 23rd (Saturday), 2025.
・Location: 
　The festival is held at and around Hagiwara Tenjinsha Shrine.
・How to Enjoy: 
　Part of the fun is sampling Japanese street food from the stalls (yatai) and mingling with the local people.

The Hagiwara Tenjinsha Summer Grand Festival is a precious opportunity to experience Japan's rich culture, history, and the passion of its local communities. We hope you will come and visit this lively and spirited festival.

萩原天神社 - YouTube

#JapaneseFestival #SummerFestival #Natsumatsuri #HagiwaraTenjinShrine #Japan #Mikoshi #PortableShrine #Dashi #Shinto #Dentouteki #Futondaiko #TaikoDrum #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseTradition #StreetFoodJapan #Yatai #LocalFestival #VisitJapan #ExploreJapan  #JapanTravel #DiscoverJapan #TravelJapan #HiddenJapan #ShintoShrine #Tenjin #Shinto #SpiritualJapan