Held annually on May 17–18 at the UNESCO-listed Nikkō Tōshō-gū, this grand ritual parade features approximately 1,200 participants costumed as samurai warriors, Shinto priests, archers, and page boys in authentic Edo-period dress. The centrepiece is a portable shrine (mikoshi) carrying the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu, flanked by horseback archers and flag bearers weaving through the ornate shrine complex. A second, nearly identical autumn festival is held on October 17. The spectacle is one of Japan's most visually elaborate living-history processions.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Culture
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- May 17–18
- Region
- Kanto
- Prefecture
- Tochigi
- City
- Nikkō
Highlights
- ◆1,200-person procession in authentic Edo-period armour and court dress
- ◆Mikoshi (portable shrine) bearing Tokugawa Ieyasu's spirit
- ◆Set within the lavishly decorated UNESCO World Heritage shrine complex
- ◆Horseback archers and traditional court music
- ◆Autumn edition on October 17 offers a second opportunity