Hatsuuma Festival

What Is the Hatsuuma Festival?

The Hatsuuma Festival is held at Kagoshima Jingū shrine in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the first Sunday on or after the 18th day of the first lunar month each year. It is known nationwide for the suzukake-uma odori (bell-horse dance), in which horses called suzukake-uma—decked with bells and lavishly adorned with colorful flowers and cloth—dance their way up the approach leading a procession of dancers. It is a distinctive and gorgeous spring festival of southern Kyushu, in which horse and people dance as one.

History and Origins

The Hatsuuma Festival of Kagoshima Jingū is a traditional event said to have a history of some 400 years. Though there are various theories about its origins, it is said to derive from beliefs praying for the good health of horses, safety in farming, and abundant harvests. Kagoshima Jingū is a venerable old shrine enshrining Hikohohodemi no Mikoto, known from the myth of Umisachihiko and Yamasachihiko, and as the first shrine of Ōsumi Province it has drawn the deep devotion of the region. The suzukake-uma odori is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kagoshima Prefecture, carefully protected and handed down as a treasure of the region.

Highlights

The greatest attraction is the suzukake-uma odori, in which the lavishly decorated suzukake-uma, ringing the bells around their necks, advance up the approach together with a procession of dancers. The sight of horses adorned with colorful artificial flowers and cloth dancing as if stepping in a distinctive rhythm is both endearing and spirited, while the drum and shamisen music and the songs and dances of the performers enliven the festival. The scene of dancers parading in a line centered on the horses is full of the gorgeousness distinctive to the southern land of Kagoshima, wrapped in a liveliness that celebrates the arrival of spring.

When It Takes Place

The festival is held each year on the first Sunday on or after the 18th day of the first lunar month (generally around February to March) at Kagoshima Jingū in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture. As a spring festival of the first lunar month, its season is spring. Because the date is based on the lunar calendar, it varies from year to year. Visitors are advised to confirm the latest dates in advance through official announcements from Kagoshima Jingū and Kirishima City.

Access

Kagoshima Jingū can be reached by bus or on foot from Hayato Station on the JR Nippō Main Line. It is relatively close to Kagoshima Airport and can be visited by JR or car from the direction of Kagoshima City. By car, nearby parking is available, but as the shrine is expected to be crowded with many worshippers on the day of the festival, public transport is recommended.

Around the Area

Kirishima is a land of hot springs and power spots spreading at the foot of the Kirishima mountain range. Venerable shrines including Kirishima Jingū, the celebrated waters of the Kirishima Onsen hot-spring area, and the magnificent nature of the Kirishima mountains are among its highlights. It is also known as the place Sakamoto Ryōma visited on his honeymoon. Together with the view of Sakurajima across Kagoshima Bay (Kinkō Bay) and the food culture of Kagoshima such as Berkshire pork and Satsuma cuisine, it is an area where one can savor the nature, history, and hot springs of southern Kyushu.

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