Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine@ Shimokitazawa: Sept. 5, 2010

There are many autumn festivals in Tokyo.
I visited a festival at Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine near Shimokitazawa, Setagaya ward today.

Hachiman shirines enshrine the Hachiman god, one of Japan’s traditional gods. There are about 8000 Hachiman shrines in Japan. The number is the second largest after Inari shrines among various shrines in Japan.

The festival is held to celebrate the harvest. It is also important as an opportunity of community’s gathering.
There are many stalls of foods, drinks and gifts in the shrine. Various performances including the lion dances, dram plays and songs were played in a open-air stage. The players are local people.

They also took portable shrines (mikoshi) and moved around the area. Some mikoshi were carried by the cheldren.

Visitors including many foreigners looked enjoying the festival.
Shopping streets hold various autumn festivals at this season. They usually have nothing to do with the country’s tradition or religion. They are commercial events. I found a small children’s festival held in Suzuran Street in Kyodo district on the Odakyu Line.

There will be many festivals through November. I am sure that I will visit tens of festivals in coming months.


Map: Kitazawa Hachiman