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- [Only ritual ceremonies in 2023] Shinojima Lord's Procession Festival (Shinojima Daimyo Gyoretsu Matsuri)
Minamichita-Town [Only ritual ceremonies in 2023]
Shinojima Lord's Procession Festival
(Shinojima Daimyo Gyoretsu Matsuri)
Date : 01/03/2023, 01/04/2023
The 2023 Shinojima Lord's Procession Festival will be limited to ritual ceremonies only, closed to the public.
Spend Your New Year's Holidays at This Tranquil Island Watching an Old Ritual
This unique festival is one of the trademarks of the small and tranquil island of Shinojima, located right in the middle of the Mikawa Bay entrance between the Chita and Atsumi peninsulas. The ritual of the Daimyo Gyoretsu Procession is carried out in order to protect Ojinjiki-sama, the spirit of Hachioji Shrine, while it is moved to Shinmei Shrine and brought back on the following day. It is believed that the power of Ojinjiki-sama will make onlookers go blind, so all the lights in the road between the two shrines are turned off during the ceremony. On the next day, after a shamanic dance at the Shinojima Beach, the crowd of almost-naked men will get in a big brawl in order to decide who gets the Otanagi-sama of the "Shinboku" Divine Tree. Besides all the marvelous rituals, the natural setting of the island will certainly make you feel relaxed and entertained during your stay.