Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival Schedule

The schedule of Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival is presented here. Owatari-shiki (Procession), which is the highlight of Aoi Matsuri Festival held every year on December 17th. On Owatari-shiki, the procession of art groups and others depart from in front of the Nara Prefectural Office and goes to the Otabisho of Wakamiya Shrine via Kintetsu Nara Station, JR Nara Station, and Sanjo-dori.

• December 15th (Oshukusho-mode)
• December 16th (Yamato-Zamurai Yoimiya-mode)
• December 17th (Owatari-shiki)
• December 18th (Hono-Sumo)

【Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival 2023 Schedule】

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival will begin on Saturday, July 1st, 2023, and the main event will be held from Friday, December 15th to Monday, December 18th. Owatari-shiki (procession) will depart from in front of the Nara Prefectural Office at 12:00 on Sunday, December 17th.
春日若宮おん祭2024日程

【Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival brief overview】

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival originated from the reisai (annual festival) held on September 17th, 1136, when Wakamiya Shrine was built in 1135. After Wakamiya Shrine was built, the heavy rains and floods stopped due to its miraculous power of Wakamiya Shrine, and the sky remained clear, leading to the holding of the reisai (annual festival) to pray for a good harvest and peace for all people. Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival has been held continuously for more than 880 years.

【July 1st : Yabusame-sadame (流鏑馬定)】

Yabusame-sadame is held every year on July 1st. Until the Meiji Restoration, Yabusame-sadame was held every year at Kofuku-ji Temple on June 1st. After that, when Yabusame (horse archery) was discontinued, the ceremony was also discontinued, but Yabusame-sadame has been held again since 1985.

【October 1st : Nawamune-sai (縄棟祭)】

Nawamune-sai is held every year on October 1st. Nawamune-sai is the groundbreaking ceremony for the Angu (temporary palace) of Otabisho, where Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama), the deity of Wakamiya Shrine, will be relocated. Kataoka families, who have served as the Kasuga Nawamune-za for generations, assemble the yakata using female pine trees and ropes.

【Early December : Bachonochigo-no-okuraiuke (馬長児僧位僧官授与式)】

Bachonochigo-no-okuraiuke (Bachonochigo-soisokan-zoyoshiki) is held every year in early December. At Bachonochigo-no-okuraiuke, Bachonochigo, who serves Bacho chosen by from the monks of Kofuku-ji Temple, is given the status of Hoingon Daisozu.

【Early December : Shozoku-tamawari and Shojin-iri (装束賜りと精進入り)】

Shozoku-tamawari and Shojin-iri are held every year in early December. At Shozoku-tamawari, the participants who will serve at Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival are presented with costumes and a letter of participation. In Shojin-iri, a sakaki branch is placed at the entrance of the house, a shimenawa (sacred rope) is tied around it, and a sign is placed on it saying “Kasuga Wakamiya Gosairei chisai no Koto” (Kasuga Wakamiya Gosairae Ichisai no Koto), cutting off negotiations with the outside world as much as possible.

【December 15th : Oshukusho-mode (大宿所詣)】

Oshukusho-mode is held every year from 13:00 on December 15th. At Oshukusho-mode, Yamato-Zamurai, Watari-Miko and others who serve Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival parade from JR Nara Station via Sanjo-dori, Higashi-muki Shotengai (shopping street), Hanashiba Shotengai (shopping street), Kintetsu Nara Station, Konishi-dori, Sanjo-dori, etc. to Oshukusho in Mochidono Centergai (shopping street).

【December 15th : Miyu-tate (御湯立)】

Miyu-tate is held every year at Oshukusho at 14:30, 16:30, and 18:00 on December 15th. At Miyu-tate, Yutate-no-Miko purifies by pouring rice and sake into boiling water in a large cauldron and sprinkling the hot water with the bamboo grass held in both hands while shouting “Saa-yoo-saa”. Miyu-tate from 14:30 is for the procession of Oshukusho-mode, Miyu-tate from 16:30 is for Yamato-Zamurai according to the old rites, and Miyu-tate from 18:00 is for the general public.

【December 15th : Oshukusho-sai (大宿所祭)】

Oshukusho-sai is held every year at Oshukusho from 17:00 on December 15th. At Oshukusho-sai, Shinto priests pray for the safe execution of Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival, and miko perform the Kagura. At Oshukusho, hanging objects such as pheasants, sea bream, salmon, etc. are hung, and tools and costumes, such as swords, bamboo, etc, are laid out, and sweets are offered to the gods.

【December 16th : Yamato-Zamurai Yoimiya-mode (大和士宵宮詣)】

Yamato-Zamurai Yoimiya-mode is held every year from about 14:30 on December 16th. At Yamato-Zamurai Yoimiya-mode, Yamato-Zamurai who serve as Ganshu-yaku, Oshi-yaku, and Baba-yaku at Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival pray for the safety of their service at Wakamiya Shrine together with children who perform Chigo-Yabusame service.

【December 16th : Dengaku-za Yoimiya-mode (田楽座宵宮詣)】

Dengaku-za Yoimiya-mode is held every year from about 15:00 on December 16th. At Dengaku-za Yoimiya-mode, Dengaku-za dedicates a performance of dengaku at Wakamiya Shrine. Dengaku has been dedicated since the beginning of the Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival, and Zeami, a sarugaku master of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), is said to have seen it when he was 12 years old, as recorded in “Zeshi-rokujuigo Sarugaku dangi.

【December 16th : Yoimiya-sai (宵宮祭)】

Yoimiya-sai is held every year from 16:00 on December 16th. At Yoimiya-sai, Mitobiraki (offering) are offered in front of Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama) and prayers are offered for the safe execution of Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival. After Yoimiya-sai, Honden (main hall) of Wakamiya Shrine is covered with a white tobari.

【December 17th : Senko-no-gi (遷幸の儀)】

Senko-no-gi is held every year from 0:00 on December 17th. At Senko-no-gi, Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama), the deity of Wakamiya Shrine, is transferred from Honden (main hall) to the Angu (temporary palace) of Otabisho. Senko-no-gi has been considered mysterious since ancient times, and is performed in the pure darkness, with all lights, including those on the approaching road, turned off.

【December 17th : Akatsuki-sai (暁祭)】

Akatsuki-sai is held every year at Otabisho from 1:00 on December 17th. At Akatsuki-sai, morning offerings are offered in front of Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama), an old-style offering of the former Negi Omiya family is also offered, and the priest recites blessings and Mikanko dedicates the shrine tradition kagura.

【December 17th : Honden-sai (本殿祭)】

Honden-sai is held every year from 9:00 on December 17th. Honden-sai is held to pray for the safe performance of Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival. Honden-sai has been called “Orusu-goto” since ancient times, and is said that offerings were offered to Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama).

【December 17th : Owatari-shiki (お渡り式)】

Owatari-shiki (Procession) is held every year from 12:00 on December 17th. On Owatari-shiki, the procession of art groups, traditional processions and others depart from in front of the Nara Prefectural Office, passes through Kintetsu Nara Station, Aburasaka, and JR Nara Station, and heads east along Sanjo-dori, and then parades to Otabisho.

【December 17th : Nandaimon komyo-no-gi (南大門交名の儀)】

Nandaimon komyo-no-gi is held every year at the former site of Kofukuji Nandaimon Gate from about 12:50 on December 17th. Nandaimon komyo-no-gi is held to show respect to Kofuku-ji Temple and to confirm that there are no omissions in the procession. Yamato-Zamurai reads the komyo, a list of names, and Bachonochigo calls out soisokan (monk rank).

【December 17th : Matsu-no-shita-shiki (松の下式)】

Matsu-no-shita-shiki is held every year in front of the Yogo-no-matsu (pine tree) near the Ichi-no-torii Gate from about 13:00 on December 17th. At Matsu-no-shita-shiki, beiju, seinoo, sarugaku, and dengaku are not allowed to enter Otabisho unless they perform a passage from one of the performing arts or a prescribed dance, and each performs one passage or dance.

【December 17th : Keiba (競馬】

Keiba (horse race) is held every year at the approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine from about 14:00 on December 17th. Keiba is held three times on the approach road to determine the winners and losers. The winners and losers of Keiba determine the order in which the ranryo-oh of the samai (dance) and the nasori of the umai (dance) are dedicated at the otabisho-sai.

【December 17th : Otabisho-sai (お旅所祭)】

Otabisho-sai is held every year at Otabisho from 14:30 on December 17th. At Otabisho-sai, somegoku (offering), whichi rice is dyed blue, yellow, red, and white is offered, and a Shinto ritual is performed by the priest. After the ritual is over, the shrine tradition Kagura and others are performed one after another.

【December 17th : Chigo Yabusame (稚児流鏑馬)】

Chigo Yabusame is held every year at the approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine from about 14:30 on December 17th. At Chigo Yabusame, one Age-no-chigo (child）and two Ite-no-chigo (children) perform the Iwai-no-Nage-ogi (throwing fan) gesture, and then proceed along the approach to the shrine shooting the first target, the second target and the third target in succession.

【December 17th : Kagura and other performances (神楽・東遊・田楽・細男・猿楽・舞楽・和舞)】

Kagura and other performances are held at Otabisho from 15:30 to about 22:30 on December 17th. After Otabisho-sai, Kagura, Azumaasobi, Dengaku, Seinoo, Sarugaku, Bugaku, and Yamatomai are dedicated in turn.

【December 17th : Kanko-no-gi (還幸の儀)】

Kanko-no-gi is held every year from 23:00 on December 17th. At Kanko-no-gi, Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto (Wakamiya-sama), the deity of Wakamiya Shrine, is transferred from the Angu (temporary palace) of Otabisho to Honden (main hall). Kanko-no-gi must be completed within 24 hours of Senko-no-gi, and may not be performed over a period of two days.

【December 18th : Hono-Sumo (奉納相撲)】

Hono-Sumo is held every year from 13:00 on December 18th. Hono-Sumo is held in a special sumo arena built on the south side of Otabisho in cooperation with the Nara Prefectural Sumo Federation, the Nara City Sports Association, and the Nara City Sumo Association.

【December 18th : Goen-no-Noh (後宴能)】

Goen-no Noh is held every year from 14:00 on December 18th. Goen-no Noh is dedicated on the lawn stage of Otabisho. Noh is dedicated by the Konparu-ryu school and Kyogen is dedicated by the Okura-ryu school.

【Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival Schedule　remarks】
Always check with the organizer for event information. Information on this site is for reference only. Contents of the event may have changed.
春日若宮おん祭お渡り式