The Yoimiya ritual at Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine

The Yoimiya ritual at Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine is a pre-autumn-festival ritual passed down in Higashimiyoshi Town. It involves inviting the deity to descend using a spirit object suspended from green bamboo and the light of a garden lantern.

About The Yoimiya ritual at Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine

The Yoimiya ritual at Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine is an ancient-style ritual held on the eve of the autumn festival.

A long stalk of green bamboo is placed in front of the , and a circular spirit object called “Onjiyaku” is hung from it. In the garden, a fire called “Niwatō” is lit.

By its light, a ritual is performed to invite the deity to descend onto the Onjiyaku.

This is a rare traditional culture in Tokushima Prefecture that preserves this form to the present day.

Source: 金丸八幡神社宵宮神事【10月14日】 | にし阿波コンテンツ | にし阿波～剣山・吉野川観光圏公式サイト

Festival highlights

Highlights include the ritual inviting the deity to descend, illuminated by the garden lantern’s fire, and the Onjiyaku hung in front of the haiden.

The also contain a “sacred stone group in rows,” a rare feature even nationwide.

A total of 387 slab stones, each approximately 1 meter tall, are arranged around the shrine grounds. Their arrangement makes use of the properties of green schist, which splits easily into slabs.

The ritual and the stone landscape create a distinctive space within the shrine grounds.

An ancient-style Yoimiya in Higashimiyoshi Town, shaped by the garden lantern’s fire and the spirit object

What to expect

At Yoimiya, a long stalk of green bamboo is first placed in front of the haiden, and a circular spirit object called an Onjiyaku is hung from it.

Next, a garden lantern fire is lit in the garden, and the ritual inviting the deity to descend is solemnly performed by its light.

The event is passed down as a ritual that begins on the eve of the autumn festival.

The sacred stone group formed by the rows of stones surrounding the shrine grounds can also be viewed as part of the setting where the ritual takes place.

Location and access

Venue and address: Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine, 1187 Nakasho, Higash Miyoshi-cho, Miyoshi-gun, Tokushima Prefecture
Parking: Parking is limited

Address 1187 Nakasho, Higash Miyoshi-cho, Miyoshi-gun, Tokushima Prefecture

Open in Google Maps

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

Season: October 14

Accommodation and hotels PR

Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Tokushima Prefecture / Higashimiyoshi Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

Supported by Rakuten Developers

Tips for your visit

It is held as a small local ritual, and parking at the venue is limited.

As the ritual begins at night, it is important to behave quietly and respectfully so as not to disturb the sacred atmosphere, including the garden lantern’s light and the stones within the shrine grounds.

Origins and History of The Yoimiya ritual at Kanamaru Hachiman Shrine

The origins and date of establishment of this ritual cannot be confirmed from available records, but it is introduced as an event that preserves the ancient form of an autumn festival to this day.

The arrangement of hanging a spirit object from green bamboo and inviting the deity to descend by the light of a garden lantern shows the form of a traditional ritual.

It is considered an exceptionally rare and valuable traditional culture in Tokushima Prefecture.

The rows of sacred stones within the shrine grounds also form a historic sacred space.

Official information

問い合わせ：東みよし町生涯学習課　0883-79-3217