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Hitachi-no-kuni Sosha-gu Shrine Annual Festival (Ishioka Festival)

Hitachi-no-kuni Sosha-gu Shrine Annual Festival is famous for its dedicated sumo wrestling. Locals love and call this festival “Ishioka Festival.”

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Locals love and call the Hitachi-no-kuni Sosha-gu Shrine Annual Festival as “Ishioka Festival.” On September 15 every year, Reitaisai, the traditional festival, is held in Ishioka City for three days ending on a Japanese holiday, Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day. The Festival on the 15th is a sacred ritual and not for tourism. But on the 2nd day, a sumo wrestling ritual is held in the morning and the other three days attract more than 500,000 locals and tourists every year. The whole town will be in a festive energy.

There is a lot to see in Ishioka Festival. One of them is a unique lion dance. A large 60cm-long lion head weighing 20 kg is followed by a portable hut. It is called a horojishi. The area has its original lion dances, some of which are designated as the City’s tangible folk cultural properties. The experienced dancer in each town takes on the lion head and walks along the town with drums, piccolos and children’s chanting.

Take a look at the floats without the ceiling. Each float from different towns comes with a puppet of a historical figure. The middle section of the float has a turning stage, which hosts a performance along with the prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property, Ishioka-Bayashi music. Each performer dances lively in a different costume. It is fun to watch floats lit up at night.

Highlights

  • Hitachi-no-Kuni Soshagu’s traditional festival is loved by locals and is called “Ishioka Festival.”
  • Each year brings more than 500,000 tourists.
  • On the 2nd of the festival, a sumo wrestling ritual is held in the morning on Hitachi-no-Kuni Soshagu’s ground.
  • A Horojishi lion dance, rare in Japan, will walk around each town.
  • The dance performed on a turning table of each ceiling-less float is a must-see.

Photos

  • Floats and lion dances march around the town even at night

    Floats and lion dances march around the town even at night

  • One of the oldest traditions of the Festival, sumo wrestling

    One of the oldest traditions of the Festival, sumo wrestling

  • Rare floats without the ceiling set up with historical figure dolls

    Rare floats without the ceiling set up with historical figure dolls

  • Dances are performed for Ishioka Bayashi music, the prefecture’s intangible folk cultural property

    Dances are performed for Ishioka Bayashi music, the prefecture’s intangible folk cultural property

  • A large lion head followed by a movable hut - Horojishi is unique to this area

    A large lion head followed by a movable hut - Horojishi is unique to this area

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Details

Name in Japanese
常陸國總社宮例大祭(石岡のおまつり)
Telephone
0299-23-1111 (Ishioka City Tourism Association)
Schedule
September 15 (Traditional Festival) and the three days ending on Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day (a holiday on Monday)
Directions
From JR Joban Line Ishioka Station, walk 20 min. (Hitachi-no-Kuni Soshagu)
Website
Official Website (Japanese)