Matsuri Festivals
Kitano Festival
Oct 1 – Oct 5, 09:00–17:00 · Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto · Kyoto
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Dates
- Oct 1 – Oct 5, 2026, 09:00–17:00
About this event
SummaryExperience the magnificent Kitano Festival, a grand portable shrine procession celebrating harvest gratitude and reviving imperial traditions interrupted by the Onin War.
Highlights
- Grand parade of portable shrines through local neighborhoods
- Unique Zuiki Mikoshi adorned with taro root and harvest produce
- Historical revival of the Hanbanto Festival rituals
Details
The event features a splendid procession of the Kitano Festival's portable shrines, known as Mikoshi, parading through the parish area. A special attraction is the Zuiki Mikoshi, a shrine-shaped offering decorated with a roof made of zuiki sweet potatoes (taro root), along with various vegetables and dried goods, symbolizing sincere gratitude for the harvest. Historically, in 1125, the festival was renamed from the Zuiki Festival to the Kitano Festival to restore old rituals for the Hanbanto Festival and revitalize the imperial festival that was interrupted by the Onin War. The procession begins in the afternoon on October 1st and continues until the morning of October 4th, during which time the shrines are stationed at the temporary shrine, also referred to as Otabisho or Otabi Shrine.
Also on the list: Matsuri Festivals in Kyoto
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