Sep. 15, 2023 UPDATE
Gokounomiya Shinkosai Festival
- 御香宮神幸祭 -Traveler Friendly
Although English brochure or any information in foreign languages are unavailable, you will surely enjoy the festival atmosphere without any Japanese language.
Information
Japanese only
Languages spoken
Japanese only
PeriodSeptember 30th - October 8th, 2023
VenueGokounomiya Shrine
Story & Recommendation
Dynamic Hanagasa parade and gorgeous Mikoshi in Fushimi
Gokounomiya Shrine, whose foundation date is unknown, is widely worshipped as Japan’s first guardian deity for easy delivery. The name of the shrine was originally different but changed after the fact that Emperor Seiwa found scented water in the well of the precinct. Therefore, the name of the shrine became "Gokounomiya Shrine", which literally means "the great scented shrine".
At Gokounomiya Shrine, located in the Fushimi area in Kyoto, the "Gokounomiya Shinkosai Festival" is held in October. As this festival lasts for 9 days, a lot of people will visit to enjoy the festival’s atmosphere. During the Shinkosai festival, there will be children's Sumo wrestling and performances of court dance and music, as well as the Japanese vertical bamboo flute.
One of the highlights is the “Hanagasa” (a type of conical hat adorned with flowers used in Japanese traditional performing arts) procession which will be held on the 1st and 8th days of the festival, called “Yoimiyasai Festival”.
This procession will be going through the shopping district in a lively atmosphere. On the last day of the festival, there will be a gorgeous Mikoshi (portable shrine) procession. Please also enjoy more than 100 various stalls during the festival!
1Highlight
Hanagasa procession
This is one of the highlights of the Shinkosai festival. The Hanagasa is a type of conical hat adorned with flowers used in Japanese traditional performing arts. The Hanagasa procession will take place in the shopping street in the Fushimi area where lots of people gather. This parade will move in the procession with various kinds of decorated Hanagasa. Please enjoy the colorful and various Hanagasa in this Shinkosai festival!
2Highlight
Mikoshi procession
The Mikoshi is a portable shrine carried by men mostly in festivals. This Mikoshi procession will take place on the last day of the festival as one of the biggest events. Formerly, "Senhime Mikoshi", which was offered for the birth of Senhime, who was a granddaughter of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, was carried by men in this Shinkosai festival. However, since it is too heavy, this Mikoshi is not carried today. Instead, it is displayed in the precinct of the shrine during the Shinkosai festival.
3Let's join!
Stalls in the Shinkosai festival
There will be more than 100 stalls in the precinct of the shrine during the Shinkosai festival and it will be crowded with lots of visitors. We recommend that you try some Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki that are usually eaten at festivals in Japan.
