Magnificent Divine Procession and Fantastic “Oyo” Spun by 380 Years of History
The “Yatsushiro Myoken Festival,” held every November in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. This traditional autumn festival boasts a history of over 380 years and is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. This time, we will introduce the highlights, schedule, and access information of the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival.
What is the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival?
The Yatsushiro Myoken Festival is the grand autumn festival of Yatsushiro Shrine (formerly Myoken-gu Shrine) and has continued since the early Edo period. It is full of highlights, such as gorgeous performances, a brave divine procession, and a fantastic “Oyo”!
It is held over two days, with the divine procession “O-kudari” (descent) and the eve festival “Oyo” on the first day, and the divine procession “O-nobori” (ascent) on the second day. In particular, “Oyo” creates a fantastic atmosphere with the lights of lanterns and heightens the climax of the festival.
Highlights of the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival
- Divine Procession: Many traditional performances such as lions, kasa-boko (large decorative parasols), and kame-hebi (turtle-snake floats) appear.
- Oyo: A fantastic spectacle of floats decorated with thousands of lanterns parading.
- Kasa-boko: The huge kasa-boko, over 10 meters high, is a symbolic presence of the festival.
- Kame-hebi: An auspicious performance that prays for longevity and a bountiful harvest.
Schedule of the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival
- November 22nd (Friday) Around 2:00 PM: Divine Procession “O-kudari”
- 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Oyo
- November 23rd (Saturday) 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM: Divine Procession “O-nobori”
Basic Information
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Event Period | Friday, November 22nd to Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 |
| Venue | Yatsushiro Shrine / Entire area of Yatsushiro City (405 Myoken-cho, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture) |
| Access | Approximately 15 minutes walk from JR Yatsushiro Station |
| Phone Number | 070-5819-8246 (Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Preservation and Promotion Association Office) |
Why not experience an autumn festival where history and tradition live on at the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival?