Kotohiki Hachimangu Grand Festival

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the 9 large chosa that gather from different districts.

On Saturday and Sunday, the floats travel through either the eastern or western district in the morning, then enter the shrine in the afternoon for the presentation.

At night, the chosa decorated with lights glow brilliantly, and some accounts describe them in a spectacular display alongside Saturday’s fireworks.

This festival lets you enjoy the powerful sight of drum floats parading through the streets and entering the shrine from different locations.

Source: うどん県の秋まつり一覧｜うどん県の秋まつり｜特集｜香川県観光協会公式サイト - うどん県旅ネット

A grand festival that brings color to autumn in Kanonji, with 9 large chosa vying with one another

What to expect

On Friday, the chosa parade through the different districts as part of the eve festival.

On Saturday and Sunday, the floats travel through either the eastern or western district in the morning, then enter Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine in the afternoon for the presentation.

Festival events also include mikoshi processions, children’s processions, dance offerings, and local kagura. Drum-float processions may be temporarily suspended during some events.

The festival also includes a Hojoe ceremony, during which carp are released into the Hachiman River.

How to take part

The festival centers on the procession and dedication of chōsa, which are maintained and operated by each district.

Visitors can watch the taikodai as they travel through town, the miya-iri, mikoshi togyo, and dance dedications.

However, no participation requirements are provided for general visitors, such as carrying a chōsa or joining dedication events.

The basic way to enjoy the festival is to watch the processions and dedications without obstructing them.

Location and access

Venue and address

Kotohiki Hachiman-gū, Yawata-chō, Kanonji, Kagawa Prefecture.

Jūōdō is also listed as a festival site.

Train and bus

It is about 5 minutes by taxi from JR Kanonji Station.

From JR Kanonji Station, take the Gō-Takamuro Line on the shared-ride bus and tell the driver, “Kotohiki Park (Mori Clinic).”

By car

It is about 12 minutes from Ōnohara IC on the Takamatsu Expressway and about 15 minutes from Sanuki-Toyonaka IC.

You can reach the honden by climbing the stone steps from the main torii, or take the one-way driveway.

Parking

Parking is available.

Source: 琴弾八幡宮｜山頂に佇む源氏ゆかりの地 - 観音寺市観光協会

Event venue 香川県観音寺市 琴弾八幡宮

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

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Dates and season

The festival is usually held from Friday through Sunday on the third weekend of October.

Friday is the eve festival, while Saturday and Sunday are for the chōsa processions, miya-iri, and dedications.

According to the Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association, the festival is held on the Saturday and Sunday of the third weekend in October, with the preceding Friday introduced as the eve festival.

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Nearby attractions

Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine is near Kotohiki Park, which features attractions such as Mount Kotohiki, Ariake Beach, and the Zenigata Sand Sculpture.

Kanonji Temple and Jinne-in Temple, and Ichiyou-an Hermitage are also located within the park, alongside Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine.

From the shrine grounds and Mount Kotohiki, you can look out over the Seto Inland Sea and the city of Kanonji.

Enjoy the history and scenery around the shrine and park alongside the festival.

Origins and History of Kotohiki Hachimangu Grand Festival

The origins of Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine are linked to a legend that in 703, the priest Nissho found a boat carrying an old man playing a koto. With the villagers, he pulled the boat and koto up the mountain and built a shrine.

In 807, Kobo Daishi (Kukai) stopped here, and the site developed as a place of worship where Shinto and Buddhism were practiced together.

After the Meiji era, the separation of Shinto and Buddhism divided Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine and Kanonji Temple; the current name was restored after the war.

The presentation of drum floats at the grand festival is said to be a tradition dating back to the Edo period.

Kotohiki Hachimangu Grand Festival at a Glance

Kotohiki Hachimangu Grand Festival is an autumn festival held at Kotohiki Hachimangu Shrine in Kanonji, where 9 large chosa parade through the city and enter the shrine.

From Friday’s eve festival through Sunday, events include drum-float processions and presentations, mikoshi processions, and kagura.

The nighttime illuminations, Saturday’s fireworks, and the scenery of Kotohiki Park are also highlights.