The restrooms within the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine are located in several places. The restroom at the rest area next to Maiden is relatively crowded.Personally, I think the hidden gem is the restroom inside the National Treasure Hall. It’s relatively unknown, so it tends to be less crowded. However, it’s only available to those who have visited the National Treasure Hall.
The famous sweet from Kamakura, Hato Sabure, was created with the image of the doves of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in mind. How about taking some home as a souvenir?
Reitai-sai, the most important festival for Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, takes places for three days from 14th to 16th September. Medieval historical texts record a ritual for releasing living creatures and of Yabusame taking place on 15th August 1187.
Dankazura road
The date has now been changed in accordance with our modern solar calendar to 15th September, but the ritual is still conducted solemnly, keeping history and tradition alive.
Source：Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Official Visitors Guidebook
Shinko-sai（Portable Shrine Procession）
After the main annual rite, portable shrine (Mikoshi), into which the spirit of the kami is temporarily transferred, are paraded through the local community. Local 3celebrants carry three mikoshi and form a procession with the chief priest.
The shrine’s priests also participate, some on horseback and some carrying flags, horses, lanterns, a drum shield, bows and arrows.
The parade, which is several 100 meters long, proceeds down Wakamiya-oji thoroughfare to the second torii.
At the gate, a temporary rest place for the portable shrines, or Otabi- sho, is prepared and a dance called yaotomeno-mai is dedicated by 8 girls in green chihaya and vermilion hakama.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu has four more portable shrines from the 15th and 16th centuries, which are for the kami of the Wakamiya shrine. Thanks to recent restoration, visitors can enjoy the decoration of the mikoshi in the splendour of their original historic form.
Source：Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Official Visitors Guidebook
Event Schedule
The event starts at 1:00 p.m., so it’s best to arrive at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine beforehand.
The photos are from 2019, but at that time we waited in the shrine grounds, watching as the priests gathered at the Maiden stage and horses appeared along the main approach. Around 1:40 p.m., the priests mounted the horses and the procession began.
I recommend walking along with the procession at a relaxed pace. You can watch as it proceeds to the Second Torii gate and then makes its way back, taking your time to observe.
Seeing the horses up close, you really notice how large they are. I also realized that there are attendants following behind to clean up after the horses.
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