Nikko Toshogu Shrine Spring Grand Festival
Near: Nikko (Event is Free)
Event Date(s):
May. 16, 2025 • May. 17, 2025
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.
The highlight of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine Spring Grand Festival is the procession of Hyakumono-Zoroe Sennin Gyoretsu (line of one thousand worriors "百物揃千人武者行列") some dressed as samurai warriors of the 18th. The shrine "Nikko Toshogu" is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu and is a World Heritage Site. This procession of worriors reproduces the scene of his grave being transferred Shizuoka Prefecture to Nikko in accordance with Ieyasu's will.
The procession departs from Otabisho shrine. In the front is three portable shrines (Mikoshi) which carry the spirits of three Shoguns including Tokugawa Ieyasu. These Mikoshi are followed by Shinto priests on horseback and samurai warriors in full armor. There is also acient court music and dancing when the Mikoshi arrive at Toshogu Shrine. On the 17th there is also horse riding archery "Yabusame" (流鏑馬), with archers dressed in samurai style shooting at targets while on horseback. This is the "Spring" Festival held by Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. Toshogu Shrine also holds this event in the Autumn.
2301 Sannai
Nikko, Tochigi 321-1431 Japan
Website: Nikko Toshogu Shrine Spring Grand Festival Homepage
