Yahagi Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

Overview

The Yahagi Shrine Autumn Grand Festival is a traditional festival held every October at Yahagi Shrine in Yahagi-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. This festival is dedicated to praying for abundant harvests and the health and safety of local residents, with its origins said to date back approximately 300 years. Today, the festival is best known for the procession of two festival floats owned by the Second Ward and Third Ward of Yahagi-cho, which parade along the old Tokaido road around the shrine, drawing large crowds of spectators.

The festival is traditionally scheduled for October 1st and 2nd each year, with the full-scale float procession taking place only when these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday. Even in years when the floats do not parade, the shrine still holds its sacred rituals, including the dedication of maiden dances at the kagura hall within the shrine precincts. The dates vary by year, so please check the official website for the latest schedule.

History and Origin

The origins of the Yahagi Shrine Autumn Grand Festival are said to date back approximately 300 years to the middle of the Edo period. Originally held as a summer festival in mid-July, it was later moved to October 1st and 2nd. The festival developed from the custom of four districts of Yahagi, known as Higashi-no-kiri, Higashinaka-no-kiri, Nishinaka-no-kiri, and Ue-no-kiri, each owning and parading their own festival floats through the town.

Over time, the number of floats declined. In the late Meiji to early Taisho period, the float owned by Ue-no-kiri, the Fourth Ward, was sold for 800 yen to the San Kai area of Minamichita Town in Chita District. This sold float is now preserved as the festival float of Hachiman Shrine in the Nishimura Ward of San Kai, Minamichita Town, where it is paraded approximately every three years. During World War II, parts of the Third Ward's float ornaments were damaged in the Okazaki air raids, but the Second Ward's float survived by evacuating its ornaments to Sakurai-ji Temple in Sakuraiji-cho.

Of the two floats that remain today, the float owned by the Second Ward, known as Higashinaka-no-kiri, was originally built in 1814 during the Bunka era using plain wood, painted in 1819 during the Bunsei era, and had its upper structure built and lacquered in 1840 during the Tenpo era. The carvings on this float are attributed to the master carver Jisuke Shigemitsu Segawa, and the master craftsman Shohachi Oyama is said to have been involved in its construction. Meanwhile, the float owned by the Third Ward, known as Nishinaka-no-kiri, was built around 1839, also attributed to Shohachi Oyama.

In 2016, the Yahagi no Sato Festival was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Okazaki City, and for the first time, both floats were paraded simultaneously. Before this event, the two floats had never been pulled together at the same time, with each year's schedule determining which float would be paraded. This commemorative event attracted significant public attention and became a turning point that influenced festival management in subsequent years.

Highlights

Procession of Two Festival Floats

The most prominent attraction of the Yahagi Shrine Autumn Grand Festival is the sight of the two floats owned by the Second and Third Wards parading along the old Tokaido road. These floats were built in the late Edo period and stand approximately six meters tall, weighing several tons, with elaborate wooden carvings covering their surfaces. The parade route starts at Yahagi Shrine, passes through Yagoto Shrine, Seiganji Temple Juo-do Hall, then turns back at Hisoko Shrine before returning to the shrine, covering a distance of about two kilometers. The moment when the floats race up the steep slope in front of the shrine is one of the most exciting scenes for spectators.

Tachikiri Maneuver

At street corners, the floats perform a traditional technique called tachikiri, where they rotate using only their front or rear wheels. This technique is a traditional method for turning the floats in narrow alleys and intersections, requiring precise coordination and teamwork among the experienced pullers. When the tachikiri is successfully executed, the audience erupts in applause and cheers, bringing the festival atmosphere to its peak excitement.

Float Carvings and Decorations

The Second Ward's float features carvings depicting scenes such as "The Parting of Kusunoki Masashige and His Son," "Bamboo and Tiger," "Lion Dropping into the Valley," and "Flying Dragon Power God," all created by the master carver Jisuke Shigemitsu Segawa and his son. The Third Ward's float is also decorated with intricate carvings by the master craftsman Shohachi Oyama, and the detailed craftsmanship is well worth seeing. These carvings are precious cultural properties that have survived wartime air raids and natural disasters, being preserved to the present day.

Maiden Dance at Kagura Hall

Inside the shrine precincts, a maiden dance, known as miko no mai, is dedicated at the kagura hall during the festival period. This dance is performed as part of the Shinto ritual to pray for abundant harvests and regional safety, with young girls dressed in white robes dancing gracefully. In contrast to the vigorous float procession, this sacred and elegant dance brings a sense of tranquility and solemnity to the festival.

Nighttime Scenery with Lantern Lights

As evening falls, lanterns attached to the floats are lit, creating a fantastical illumination along the old Tokaido road. In the past, it is said that all four floats would gather west of Yahagi Bridge and make a shrine entry, known as miya-iri, with their lanterns lit. Although only two floats remain today, the nighttime parade sees the lantern light highlighting the shadows of the carvings, revealing a beauty different from that seen during the day.

Community-Driven Festival Management

This festival is a community-based event operated entirely by the residents of Yahagi-cho, with the float pullers mainly consisting of local youth groups and neighborhood association members. Each household begins preparations weeks in advance, practicing festival music and decorating the floats, turning the entire town into a festival atmosphere. This strong community cohesion supports the sustainability of the festival, serving as the driving force that keeps the tradition alive for over 300 years.

Event Information and Access

• Event Date: Basic schedule is October 1st and 2nd each year, with float processions held only when these dates fall on Saturday or Sunday. The dates vary by year, so please check the official website for the latest schedule
• Event Time: 10:10 AM to 5:30 PM (during float procession hours)
• Venue: Yahagi Shrine and its surroundings, located at 1 Hojuan, Yahagi-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
• Nearest Station: Yahagibashi Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line, approximately 10 minutes on foot
• Cultural Property Designation: The Second Ward float was designated as an Okazaki City Tangible Folk Cultural Property on February 8, 1968, and the Third Ward float was designated on March 23, 1973
• Important Notes: Float processions are not held in years when the dates do not fall on Saturday or Sunday. Always check the latest schedule and event status on the official website of the Okazaki City Tourism Association or Yahagi Shrine before visiting

Surrounding Area Information

The area around Yahagi Shrine features streetscapes that retain the atmosphere of the old Tokaido road, making it suitable for leisurely walks. Within walking distance of the shrine are Yagoto Shrine and Hisoko Shrine, which are stops along the float procession route, and these shrines also hold significant historical value. Yagoto Shrine, in particular, is an important spot where the floats turn around during the parade, and it becomes crowded with spectators on festival day.

Famous tourist attractions in Okazaki City, such as Okazaki Castle and Okazaki Park, known as the birthplace of Ieyasu Tokugawa, are approximately 15 minutes away by car from Yahagi Shrine. Additionally, near Yahagi Bridge flows the Yahagi River, which is connected to the legend of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto making arrows, which led to the founding of Yahagi Shrine. By visiting these tourist spots together, visitors can enjoy a more comprehensive historical exploration of Okazaki City.

The official tourism website for the Nishimik area, Nishimikawa Gurutto Navi, provides regularly updated information on the Yahagi Shrine Autumn Grand Festival and other regional events. Detailed festival information is also available on the official website of the Okazaki City Tourism Association, and it is recommended to check access methods and parking availability in advance. Since the surrounding roads become congested on festival day, using public transportation is recommended.

Related Information

• Founding Legend of Yahagi Shrine: The shrine is said to be named after the story of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto ordering the Yahagi-be to make 10,000 arrows to subdue rebels
• Second Ward Float Cultural Property Designation: Designated as an Okazaki City Tangible Folk Cultural Property on February 8, 1968. Built in 1814, with carvings by Jisuke Shigemitsu Segawa
• Third Ward Float Cultural Property Designation: Designated as an Okazaki City Tangible Folk Cultural Property on March 23, 1973. Built around 1839, attributed to Shohachi Oyama
• Yahagi Shrine Ema Collection: A group of 12 votive picture tablets designated as Okazaki City Tangible Folk Cultural Properties on February 6, 1991
• Hachiman Shrine Festival Float in Minamichita Town: The float formerly owned by Ue-no-kiri of Yahagi was sold and is now preserved and used at this shrine
• Akiba Shrine and Hata Shrine Grand Festival: Another float festival held in Aichi Prefecture, useful as a comparison for understanding regional traditional culture
• Okazaki City Tourism Association: Provides the latest festival information and contact inquiries (phone number: 0564-64-1637)
• Yahagi Shrine: Contact inquiries (phone number: 0564-31-6174)

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