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Festival - Kamioka Festival -
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| Hida Three Major Festivals The fourth Saturday in April
The Kamioka festival is a combined in-town annual festival of Otsu Shrine, Asaura Hachimangu and Shiroyama Shrine. It is also counted as one of the major three Hida festivals. The Kamioka festival is known to tell that spring has come to Hida Kamioka. The entire town is crowded with more than 700 people who are excited with “Mikoshi” (portable shrine) parade, “Shishi-mai” (the Lion dance) and dance of Cock Fight.
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| The parade is done twice, one during the daytime and the other at night. In the day time, a princess shows a magnificent dance in the falling cherry blossoms. At night, please enjoy the fantastic procession in the light of lantern. |
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 Story of “Kamioka Festival” |
| The day the god visits the village once a year to see the hometown is here. The libation is solemnly presented from each house. Dance and music are also dedicated in the celebratory atmosphere. The cerebration time passes quickly and the time comes when the god must go home. The god had such an enjoyable time at the village; therefore, the god returns his home slowly and slowly. Eventually, the god arrives in front of the last “Ohtorii” (large gate). The god can not go back any longer after passing this gate. |
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| Highlight of Kamioka Festival |
The highlight is the parade attended by approximately 700 people.
It’s just like the Heian era picture scroll in the Otsu Shrine. “Sarutahiko” who purifies the way in front, then follows the lion, “Kagura (court dancers)”, “Kagaku (court musicians)”, cock fight dancers, his fellows, “Uneme (female servants)”and a big and small “Mikoshi (portable shrine)”. |
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The head of the line, “Sarutahiko” |
Brave “Shishi-mai (lion dance)” |
Cockfight Dance |
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“Mikoshi (portable shrine)” |
Dance of Toyosaka |
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| Climax of “Kamioka Festival” |
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When twilight approaches and repositioning is about to begin, the parishioners gather around the path to the shrine with torches in their hands. The lion and cook fighter dance reach at its peak and “Mikoshi” is held with the maximum power.
Then, the moment of the tension comes. At the moment when the lantern at the edge of the tall pole is waved two to three times, the surrounding air is intensified. “Mikoshi” stands up rushing into the sanctuary. Here comes the climax of “Kamioka Festival.” |
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While the sound of the court music and Japanese drum vibrate the air, the god is sacredly returned to the sanctuary.
The Kamioka festival ends while changing people's excitements into unforgettable impression. |
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