The “Sone Shinko Gyoji (Kaisaku Shinji)” is a grand festival held at Watatsumi Shrine, which was built as the guardian of Sone Shinden.
Praying for abundant harvests, wind calming, and tide stopping, the Shinko Gyoji is held from April 15th to May 3rd. On the final day’s Shinko Festival, seven doll-decorated floats gather from the Sone and Kuchinawa districts, and a ceremony with a unique format in which one float transforms into “Lantern Float,” “Banner Float,” and “Doll-decorated Float” takes place. This Shinto ritual is designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Kitakyushu City.
With highlights such as the lowering of the gongs and the appearance of the floats, this festival is full of things to see.
Access Information
Date and Time: May 3rd, 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. In case of severe weather, it will be postponed to the 4th. If the 4th is also severely weather-affected, it will be postponed to the 5th (If the 5th is also severely weather-affected, the event will be canceled).
Location: Watatsumi Shrine and others, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Organizer: Sone Shinko Festival (Kaisaku Shinji) Preservation Society
Contact: Kokuraminami Ward Office, General Affairs and Planning Division 093-951-1024
Related Website: https://www.city.kitakyushu.lg.jp/shimin/02100244.html
Access: Approximately 8 minutes by car from Kuchinawa Station on the Nippo Main Line or a 10-minute walk from the “Sone Shinden” Nishitetsu bus stop.