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Complete guide to the Suwa Shrine ‘Grand Festival Shinko Matsuri’ in Nagareyama! Highlights and moving stories

Komaki Suwa Shrine’s ‘Grand Festival Shinko Matsuri.

Komagi Suwa Shrine in Nagareyama City is known and loved by the local people as ‘Suwa-sama’. Every year on 22 August, the ‘Omatsuri Shinko Matsuri’ is held, attracting many visitors from far and wide. The shrine is a popular destination for visitors from far and wide, with a colourful mikoshi parade through the town, attracting many worshippers and tourists. Kokotaka is a familiar shrine that I visit four or five times a year. There are three major festivals in Nagareyama: the New Year’s visit, the ‘Nagoshi no Harae’ on 30 June to ward off bad luck, and the ‘Daisai Shinko Matsuri’ festival on 22 August. There are many events in Nagareyama, and this festival is one of the most recommended by Nagareyama concierge Kotaka.

Location of the ‘Suwa-sama’ and Nagareyama Otakanomori.

Suwa-sama is located about 15 minutes’ walk from Nagareyama Otakanomori Station. From Toyoshiki Station, which is one neighbouring station in the direction of Kashiwa, it is closer, about 6 minutes.

In this article, I’ll tell you about the highlights at the Grand Festival Shinko Matsuri. Now, we’ve arrived. If the weather is fine, this is just a good walking course from Nagareyama Otakanomori Station.

The precincts of the temple are crowded with many stalls.

Wow, it’s exciting to see so many stalls! There are a whopping 80 stalls!

Look at that. It’s very crowded with people again this year! Smell so good! Now what shall we eat? I’m already hungry.

Origin and history of the festival

Now, let me tell you a little bit about the history of the ‘Osumatsuri Shinko Matsuri’ of the ‘Suwa-sama’. The ‘Omatsuri Shinko Matsuri’ is a festival associated with the founding of Suwa Shrine and has a history of several hundred years. The purpose of this festival is to carry the deities of the shrine out into the town in a mikoshi (portable shrine), so that the whole community can receive the blessings of the deities. It is mainly held to pray for a good harvest, prosperous business and family health. Suwa Shrine is a historical shrine in Komagi, Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, founded at the beginning of the Heian period. This ‘Suwa-sama’ is worshipped as a deity especially for the growth of children and safe childbirth, and the shrine building was completed in 1846 and is characterised by its Edo period architectural style.

Food stalls and fun

Look at it, it sparkles and shines like a jewel, it’s so beautiful!

This time it’s goldfish scooping. Everyone is very serious. This has been a traditional Japanese summer event since the Edo period and has been loved by many people throughout the ages.

By the way, everyone looks very fashionable in yukata and jinbei. I would like to wear one too.

The scenery of children dressed in yukata enjoying goldfish scooping is very beautiful and emotional. It evokes a sense of quiet, peaceful beauty and nostalgia.

It smells so good, doesn’t it? Oh, this is no good. It’s grilled squid, isn’t it? I’m at the end of my patience.

Please give me one half and one geso.

Gourmet food at festivals is fun because you can eat a little bit of a variety of foods. Yakitori is a must. Two Negimas, two garlic cloves, and a tsukune, please! Next, which should we have, yakisoba or okonomiyaki?

Lanterns at night

At night, hundreds of lanterns at the shrine are lit, creating a very magical atmosphere! The LED tree illumination of the modern Christmas season is beautiful, but the gentle light of traditional Japanese lanterns is also very nice!

The “Osuwa-sama” festival at night is very fantastic and atmospheric. You can feel a mysterious sensation as if you have time-traveled back to the good old Showa period.

Climax of the festival

Well, is it time for the mikoshi (portable shrine) to come inside the shrine? Shall we move? I am looking forward to it.

The sound of a metal cane poking a little closer, chirping and chirping in the distance. Ah, it’s Mr. Tengu! It’s Mr. Tengu!

The role of the tengu is to lead the mikoshi (portable shrine) and procession, to drive away evil spirits and disasters, and to bring happiness and prosperity to the participants and the local community.

The gods are carried around the town in a mikoshi (portable shrine), paraded through the community, and finally returned to the front of the main shrine.

This is a prayer before the festival is successfully held and the deity returns to the main shrine.

This prayer is also an opportunity to pray for the prosperity of the community and the health and happiness of the worshippers.

Everyone is working very hard to carry the shrine with their last strength so that the god will return to the main shrine! Eisa! Hoisar! Eisa! Hoisaa!” The energetic shouts echo through the shrine grounds.

Tengu-san quietly watches over the portable shrine.

The mikoshi must be placed exactly in the middle of the person guiding the mikoshi from one step higher than the goal line. If you are even slightly out of alignment, you will be pushed back again and again with the words, “Yes, no, no, go back! and the mikoshi will be pushed back again and again. That is the highlight of the event!

Some people said, “Oh, that’s too bad. Still, they did not give up, and they continued to shout, “Eisa, eisa! Hoisar! Eisa! Hoisir! Come on, hold on! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Go back again! Come on!

Eisa! Hoisar! Eisa! Hoisar!” The goal was finally reached, and everyone around them applauded enthusiastically.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone performed “san san shichi clap” to close the “Omatsuri Shinko Matsuri”. It was very powerful and amazing. Now, it is time to go back to “Ichinoya no Mori.

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