Kashima’s Saitōsai

Festival highlights

Highlights include a procession of musicians wearing brightly colored festival costumes and the Saitō-bayashi, in which performers fit and separate oak staffs as they make their way along.

Led by a newly initiated participant dressed in armor, the procession heads from the town to the grounds of Kashima Jingu Shrine, with festival songs ringing out to the sounds of conch shells and drums.

On the shrine grounds, each group performs its music, followed by a joint performance. In the evening, a divine oracle is also performed to choose the district in charge for the following year.

Source: 祭頭祭当日の神事 - 鹿嶋市ホームページ

An enduring Kashima festival where oak staffs and music herald spring

What to expect

The festival follows this sequence: a morning departure ritual, the Saitō-bayashi in the afternoon, and the Spring Festival in the evening.

At the departure ritual, district representatives and others attend. For the Saitō-bayashi, the musicians form a procession and parade through town before performing on the grounds of Kashima Jingu Shrine.

At the Spring Festival, after a ceremonial act of smashing a large bamboo pole, the chief priest uses a divine oracle to choose candidates for the following year’s district in charge.

How to take part

The hayashi and shinji at the heart of the festival are carried out by people from the duty districts selected by divination, together with the hayashi performers.

No information is provided on whether general visitors can participate as hayashi performers or whether registration is available on the day.

At the same time, the tradition has been passed down in a way that includes women and small children as hayashi performers.

Location and access

Venue and address

The grounds of Kashima Jingu, and the area around Omachi-dori and Nakamachi-dori, where the Saitōbayashi shinji and spring festival are held.

Train and bus

It is a 10-minute walk from JR Kashima-Jingu Station to Kashima Jingu.

The express bus from Tokyo Station to Kashima-Jingu Station takes about 2 hours, and the Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai-Kashima Line from Mito Station to Kashima-Jingu Station takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

By car

Directions from the Tokyo area indicate traveling to Kashima via Miyanogi JCT and Itako IC; the journey takes about 2 hours.

Traffic restrictions are announced for parts of Omachi-dori and nearby roads on the day of the Saitōbayashi.

Source: 祭頭祭(令和7年開催について) - 鹿嶋市ホームページ / 交通アクセス - 鹿嶋市ホームページ

Event venue 茨城県鹿嶋市 鹿島神宮

This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The 2026 event information stated that the Saitōsai would be held on March 9, followed by the Saitō-bayashi and Spring Festival on March 14.

The Saitōsai is the morning departure ritual, the Saitō-bayashi is the afternoon homecoming ritual, and the Spring Festival is the evening divination ritual.

Although the 2026 event dates have passed, the information stated that the Saitōsai is scheduled to take place in March each year.

Source: 祭頭祭 | 鹿島神宮

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Tips for your visit

During the Saitōbayashi, a procession of hayashi performers winds through the town from the honjin and heads to the grounds of Kashima Jingu.

Traffic restrictions are in place on Omachi-dori and nearby roads, and vehicles may not be allowed to enter, so if you are driving, avoid the restricted areas.

If you watch the procession or the hono on the shrine grounds, follow instructions along the route and on the grounds so as not to interfere with the shinji.

Nearby attractions

Temples and shrinesKashima City

鹿島神宮

茨城県鹿嶋市にある神社

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

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写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0

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Facility data source

Attractions in the same municipality. Check each attraction’s official website for travel distances from the venue and current opening information.

Origins and History of Kashima’s Saitōsai

The Saitōsai is said to date back to either the Nara or Heian period, but its beginnings and origins are not clearly known.

Written records identify the 1204 participation of the Katano and Hirai districts as the earliest record of a district taking charge of the Saitōsai.

It moved from day 15 of lunar month 2 to March 9 after the Meiji period, and in Showa 51 it was designated a nationally selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Official information

Kashima Jingu Shrine’s Saitōsai information page lists the 2026 dates for the Saitōsai, Saitō-bayashi, and Spring Festival.

Kashima City’s cultural properties guide provides detailed information about the festival’s ritual sequence, history, and preservation and transmission.

Kashima’s Saitōsai at a Glance

Kashima’s Saitōsai is a spring festival centered on Kashima Jingu Shrine, praying for bountiful harvests and peace throughout the land.

The district chosen by divination spends a year preparing, and offers a procession featuring musicians in festival costumes, a newly initiated participant dressed in armor, and performances with drums and oak staffs.

The Saitō-bayashi procession through the town and the Spring Festival, where the district in charge for the following year is chosen, are major highlights.