Kotohira-gu Shrine Annual Grand Festival 2025

The “Annual Grand Festival” (Reitaisai), known in the calendar as “Kotohira Festival,” is a special and the most important ritual of Kotohira-gu Shrine. The festival lasts 46 days, from the Opening Ritual on August 31 to the Fire Purification Ritual on October 15. The main ceremonies—“Evening Festival,” “Main Shrine Festival,” and “Mikoshi Procession”—are held over three days from October 9 to 11.
October 10 is especially significant as the day the deity descends to the town at the foot of Mt. Kotohira, known as “O-sagari.” The mikoshi procession is a grand parade approximately 2 kilometers long. The mikoshi is led by two boys on horseback called “Oto-nin-san” and two girls carrying palanquins, believed to guide the deity with their pure hearts.

Dates

• Oct 9, 16:00 Evening Festival (Main Shrine)

• Oct 10, 10:00 Grand Festival (Main Shrine)

• Oct 10, 21:00 Mikoshi departs Main Shrine (Main Shrine → Otabisho)

• Oct 11, 21:00 Mikoshi returns to Main Shrine (Otabisho → Main Shrine)

Location
Kotohira-gu Shrine

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