Each event at Rokusho Shrine expresses our sincere prayers for the well-being of our community,

and the connections between people and the divine.

We welcome all to take part in these traditions, whether you are a local resident or visiting from afar.

anuary (Coming-of-Age Day) – 14:00

New Year Festival (Shinnen-sai)  

As we welcome the beginning of a new year,

we pray for the safety and well-being of all ujiko (parishioners), worshippers, and the wider community.

Come together to offer your first prayers of the year and receive blessings from the divine.

 February (Setsubun Day) – 14:00

Setsubun Festival 

“Setsubun” marks the day before the beginning of spring on the traditional calendar.

It’s considered the final day of winter and signifies the transition to a new season.

At our shrine, we perform a ritual burning of kigan-kushi (wooden prayer sticks) —

to drive out evil spirits and invite good fortune into the new year.

This age-old tradition is widely observed across Japan.

July (4th Sunday) – 14:00

Kannou-sai (Summer Agricultural Prayer Festival) 

Traditionally held as a Tanabata festival.

We pray for the abundant and safe growth of rice crops,

and for the health and strength of ujiko and worshippers through the summer heat.

It is a seasonal ritual for wellness and prosperity.

October (1st Sunday) – 14:00

Mikoshi Ritual (Oide-sai) 

This sacred rite is conducted to welcome the deities

in preparation for the grand autumn festival, Shinkou-sai.

We pray that the divine procession in October proceeds safely and smoothly.

October (The evening before Shinkou-sai) – 19:00

Eve of Shinkou-sai (Yomiya)

The eve of the festival features community events including mochi pounding and local performances.

In 2024, a collaboration with Ritsumeikan University began,

and university students also hosted a variety of stalls and activities at the event.

October (4th Sunday) – 12:00

Shinkou-sai (Grand Autumn Festival)

The deity of Rokusho Shrine is enshrined in a mikoshi and parades through the Kinugasa–Komatsubara area,

carried by the hands of local ujiko.

This is the shrine’s most significant and large-scale festival,

connecting people and the divine through a vibrant spiritual procession.

It is said that during this sacred journey,

those who witness or take part in the festival are uplifted,

and the kami (deity) blesses the households along the route.

✨ From 2024 onward, the mikoshi procession also includes a route through Ritsumeikan University,

with many students joining as participants and bearers.

November (4th Sunday) – 14:00

Hiwatari-sai (Fire Purification Festival) 

This sacred fire ceremony traces its roots to the ancient court ritual Niiname-sai,

a harvest thanksgiving tradition, which eventually spread to communities across Japan.

Today, it aligns with Labor Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23) and celebrates the year’s bounty.

At Rokusho Shrine, we burn wooden prayer sticks (kigan-kushi) in a powerful sacred fire

to express gratitude for the harvest and to pray for protection and wish fulfillment.

As the smoke rises, we chant traditional norito (sacred prayers).

December 31 – From 23:00

New Year’s Eve Purification (Toshikoshi-no-Gi)

On the final night of the year, we light kagari-bi (ceremonial bonfires)

and welcome visitors to the shrine with sacred sake (omiki).

This nighttime visit is called “year-end mode” (nenmatsu-moude),

meant to express gratitude for the past year and offer prayers for the year to come.

🙏 Each seasonal event at Rokusho Shrine is an opportunity to give thanks,

receive blessings,

and reconnect with the divine through tradition.