• Big Spring Ceremony
• Hana-Matsuri (Flower Festival)
• Cherry-Blossom - Drum Event
• Otaue Ceremony
  (Rice-Planting Ceremony)
• Kikoku Ceremony
  (Good Rice Harvest Ceremony)
• Arts-n-Crafts Fair
• Onna Matsuri (Women's Festival)
• Matsuri-Yatai in Himeji

• Yukata-Matsuri
• Summer Purification Ceremony
• Ieshima-Tenjin Festival
• Offshore Fireworks Event
• Himeji Castle Festival
• Himeji Yosakoi Festival

• Himeji Castle Moon-Viewing Event
• Nada Kenka Matsuri
• Lion Dance
• Chrysanthemum Exhibition
• Lantern Festival
• Japan Pottery Fair
• Kokoro-no-Matsuri
• Ohashira-sai

• Japan Kite Festival
• Demon Expulsion Ceremony
• Setsubun Ceremony
• Goma (Holy Fire) Ceremony
• Yakujin Ceremony

• In many parts of the city you can find autumn festivals where people carry elaborately decorated portable shrines on their shoulders.
• These are many other locally colorful autumn festivals awaiting your participation.

At Shirakawa Shrine, known as the shrine for eyes, the Big Spring Ceremony is held with the wish to be united with the Great Inari God in the spring when everything blossoms. We will renew a strong blessing to our eyes and hearts at this ceremony. At the Hatsuuma Ceremony on March 22, people celebrate the advent of the Great Inari God and pray for the health and safety of worshipers and participants. At the Kinen Ceremony on March 23, we pray for a good harvest, the prosperity of the Royal Family, a prosperous continuity of our country, and the safety of the people as well as the health of the worshipers and participants.

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Hana-Matsuri, is the birthday celebration of Gautama who started Buddhism. On this day people worship Buddha who's images are on a stage surrounded by colorful camellias, pouring sweet tea on the top of the Buddha and wishing the participants good health. Over 300 camellias in the temple welcome the visitors to this event. Shosha-Sakamoto, where Amidaji Temple is located, was the political and economic center of the Harima region in the Muromachi Era (14th and 15th century), and was ruled by the Akamatsu Family. Therefore, this area was well endowed with many markets called Sakamoto-Waichi. To revive the prosperity of this area, the flea-market is open at the same time as the Hana-Matsuri and the camellia exhibition are held.

Spring at its best! “Himeji Castle Cherry-Blossom Viewing and Drum Event” is held every year when the cherry trees are in full bloom at Himeji Castle. Surrounded by approximately 1000 trees, chosen as one of the best 100 places for cherry blossoms in Japan, 100 Koto (Japanese-style harps) are played by women in Kimono, and you can enjoy this event in a refined atmosphere.

You can enjoy stimulating Taiko drums at this blossom-viewing event.

Cherry blossoms in the Nishinomaru Garden of the castle are illuminated at night during the blossom-viewing events.

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The Otaue Ceremony at Hiromine Shrine is held in hopes for a good rice harvest and it is the most important ceremony among the many rituals for agriculture. People were afraid of epidemics and famine caused by insects that do harm to the rice plant. So they have participated the ceremony to pray for a good harvest and for a good life at the beginning of the rice-planting season. Additionally they have sought fortunetelling about the harvest for the coming year. At this ceremony a temporary rice-field surrounded by wooden boards is made in front of the shrine and it is divided into three sections for three different rice groups depending on the harvesting time: early, medium and late. Field workers, young rice plant carriers, young female planters, umbrella carriers, drummers and flute players are first purified by a priest. Then, field workers prepare the field by using a wooden plow and young rice-plant carriers throw the plants from their baskets into the temporary field. Young girls who wear a hat with cherry blossoms start planting the rice. During the ceremony, flutes and drums are played while accompanied with a song.

Following the Otaue Ceremony (Rice-planting ceremony) on April 3, the Kikoku Ceremony (Good Rice Harvest Ceremony) is held on April 18 when the result of the fortunetelling of the rice crop for the year is announced. During the first part of the ceremony three groups of rice, divided as early-planting rice, middle-planting rice and late-planting rice are offered to a God with flowers and mochi-cakes with the presumption of a good rice crop this year. Then the announcement of which rice this year should be planted for a good harvest is made by a God. In the second part, three horses with costumed riders run three times in the grounds to brighten the area. This ceremony has been handed down from since the Heian Era (for over 1000 years).

Artists from all over the country come to this annual fair to show and sell their works. Their works are composed from wood, pottery, glass, textile and iron. More than 100 booths are set up and live music is also performed.
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Over 500 women from kindergarten pupils to the eldery dance and parade in the shopping streets with the song of 'Onna-Matsuri' on the evening before 'The Matsuri- Yatai in Himeji'.
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Himeji's autumn festivals are known for their magnificence and soul-stirring atmosphere as many men carry the well-decorated mobile shrines on their shoulders and parade through their neighborhoods. The Matsuri-Yatai in Himeji has been held since 2004 to show the beauty of these splendid mobile shrines in front of the beautiful Himeji Castle, a World Cultural Heritage.

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The Yukata-Matsuri (casual kimono festival) held June 22 and 23 was said to begin the biggest festival of Osakabe Shrine. People worshiped the local god of Himeyama at the Osakabe Shrine, and it was located where the castle is now for over 1000 years. Since Hideyoshi Toyotomi built the three-storied castle on the hill in the 16th century and Terumasa Ikeda constructed the present castle there in 1609, ordinary citizens, except samurai-class people, had not been able to visit and worship at the shrine. When Masamine Sakakibara, a lord of Himeji Castle, was ordered to move to Echigo (Niigata) about 260 years ago, he moved the shrine from the hill to downtown Himeji where everyone can visit it easily. He held the Moving God Ceremony on the summer solstice day, and the biggest festival of this shrine has been held on June 23 since then. During the Moving God Ceremony, citizens were allowed to wear their yukata (casual kimono) because they did not have enough money and time to make their formal kimono for the event. Citizens have celebrated the festival every year with their yukata, and so people call it Yukata-matsuri. The number of vendors around this event location is the biggest in Western Japan, and a great number of people participate in this festival.

Twice a year, at the end of the first and second half-year, we have a custom to purge impurities that have accumulated in the past six months. The June ceremony is called Nagoshi-no-harae, summer purification, and the December ceremony is called Toshikoshi-no-harae, year-end purification. On June 30, people walk three times through a big thatched ring in front of the shrine before praying there. You first walk through the ring and make a left-turn and come back to the starting point. Then you pass through the ring and make a right-turn and come back to the same point. Last, you walk through the ring toward the shrine. The "Bingo-no-kuni-fudoki" written in the 8th century, describes an instance when Gozutenno, the main god at Hiromine Shrine, said to his poor host, Somin-Shorai, "make a thatched ring and carry it around your waist to avoid disease in case an epidemic spreads throughout the country." Subsequently, we believe that thatching protects us from evil.

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Ieshima-Tenjin Festival, held on July 24 and 25 every year, is the biggest festival on Ieshima Shrine. This shine has a recorded history of more than 1000 years. A traditional story tells of Michizane Sugawara visiting the shrine during exile on his way to Kyushu. Many seamen on the island worship at this shrine. This festival is for safety on the sea and prosperity for the local people. Two boats are put together, elaborately decorated, and equipped with a stage for performing. On July 25 these dragon-headed Danjiri boats sail energetically. Their ceilings are embellished with the Ichimatsu pattern, and the edges of boats are skirted with carved Ranma. There are many boats with banners where the lion dance is performed while accompanied by flute, drums and other musical instruments. The launching of Danjiri boats is the highlight of this festival. The people of the island conclude the festival on the night of the 25th with 1000 fireworks.

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The “Offshore Fireworks Event” in late July is a part of the Himeji Port Festival. Approximately 3000 fireworks light up the night sky and fireworks called “Star Mines” are launched on the surface waters of Himeji Port.

The “Himeji Castle Festival” in early August is the most important summer festival for people in the Himeji area. It begins with “Takigi-Noh”, a Noh play performed while accompanied by bonfire at night. The performance, with Himeji Castle illuminated in the background, is filled with profound, quiet elegance. On the following day many groups of people walk in a parade. The selected “Queen of Himeji Castle” is followed by marching bands and by people in historical costumes traditionally worn for the princess’s wedding. Dance groups, playing Banshu Ondo music, are the highlight of the festival.

"Good human kindness and love in Himeji" is a motto for this event and it began with 30 interested people in August, 2000. This annual event is to cheer up the city of Himeji with two main themes: to foster the youth physically and mentally, and to revitalize the shopping area. Every performer feels happy to dance there and to be seen, and likewise the audience enjoys their performance. Over 1500 energetic dancers present their performance around the castle.
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In mid-fall this is the event to enjoy the beautiful moon with Himeji Castle in the background. Koto-play, Japanese drums and local dance are performed on a stage. Local sake and sweets can be purchased there, and the areas for tea-ceremony and for observing the moon are set up at the site.
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The “Nada Kenka Matsuri” of the Matsubara Hachiman Shrine on October 14 and 15 is known nationwide for its magnificence and the heroic performance of portable-shrine bearers. Participants, with colorful bamboo poles, become excited and call out gallantly.
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The “Lion Dance of the Ohshio Tenmangu Shrine” on October 14 and 15, an event handed down since the Kamakura period, features 8 lions performing brave dances to traditional music.

More than 200 works of miniature gardens, chrysanthemums and bonsai-styled chrysanthemums, which are grown with utmost care by members of the Himeji Chrysanthemum Association and chrysanthemum lovers, are exhibited. Himeji Castle is the backdrop for elegantly-blooming large chrysanthemums. You can enjoy viewing this exhibit without entering the castle.

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The “Lantern Festival of the Usuki Hachiman Shrine” is a unique event. Participants try to hit and take down a lantern on the top of a 3-meter-high bamboo pole. This lantern fight takes place in the evening of October 21, and on the following day 18 portable shrines arrive for this festival.

You can see pottery from all over Japan. Over 200,000 ceramic items from over 30 kilns including famous Shigaraki, Echizen and Kutani are exhibited and sold at this fair. Ceramics from the Sohma kiln of Fukushima prefecture and from the Tsuboya kiln of Okinawa are shown there, too. It is one of the biggest pottery fairs in Western Japan. Areas for Tea Ceremony and local delicacies are also set up at this fair.
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On November 11 from 10AM to 4PM, citizens of Himeji voluntarily open their houses, studios, work-places, temples and shrines. You may find hidden treasure and feel the warmth of people in Himeji, visiting these places where we usually are not able to see and talking to the people there. About 10,000 people tour around the city through this event, and over 50 places throughout the city are open to the public every year.
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Hiromine Shrine was a center of the Yin-Yang School. This ceremony is held on November 15 which is regarded as the best day in the year in the Yin-Yang philosophy. It is a ceremony in hopes that the sun will give us enough light and energy in the coming year for a good harvest and to pray for good fortune and happiness. This ceremony has more than a 1000-year history.

A sacred 5-meter-high pole is erected in the early morning on the day in front of the main hall of the shine.  Then 12 wooden boards which represent each direction are tied on top of the pole, and we pray for God’s visit to the pole from above.

After the ceremony at the main hall of the shine, a fire will be ignited at the bottom of the pole.  The direction in which the pole has fallen will be the one people should be careful of after the next Chinese New Year.

November 15
4PM: Ceremony at the main hall
5PM: Put the fire to the Sacred Pole

The “Japan Kite Festival” opens on Adults’ Day. Approximately 800 kites of different kinds are flown, and this event is the biggest one of it type in Western Japan.

The “Demon Expulsion Ceremony” at Engyouji Temple of Shosha and at Zuiganji Temple of Masui is performed at the beginning of the year with a wish for a good harvest and prosperous business. Red and blue demons, carrying fire and swords, dance magnificently.
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At Himeji Shrine, the Setsubun Ceremony (Ceremony on the day before the first calendar day) is held on February 3 every year. A fire is lit in front of the main hall of the shrine at 13:30. The ceremony begins at 14:00. A Red Demon, Blue Demon and Child Demons walk around the shine. At the stage a dance by demons and other dances are performed. In the main hall the Shinto ceremony is held. At 15:30 soybeans are thrown by the priest and chosen citizens, shouting "Demons out! Good luck in!"
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For spiritual purification, holy wood is burned in front of the main God, Gozu-Tennoh, at Hiromine Shrine. This wood is regarded as human worries and misfortune, and the fire is symbolized as the wisdom and the truth. Participants can pray for healthy and safe lives by walking on the burned wood embers with their bare feet at the end of the ceremony.
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Hondawake-no-mikoto was initially recognized at Otokoyama Hachiman Shrine, and has been worshiped as a guardian god by the successive lords of the Himeji Castle. Local supporters of this shrine continue the ancestral practice of worship, which has been part of their history and tradition for over a few hundreds years. Supporters hold a ceremony to pray for world peace, prosperity for the local area, prevention of bad luck, and family safety. This purifying ceremony is the biggest in this area, and throughout the night visitors keep coming. A sacred bonfire is made, and you can participate in a lottery, manju-cakes and soba-noodles. The critical ages for men are 24,40,41,42,60, and for women 18, 31,32,33,60.
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