Prayers for Sagami conveyed through six shrines’ mikoshi and a traditional seating dialogue
Kōno Matsuri
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year May 5 / Every year
- Location
- Kamisoyama, Ōyaba (Ōyaba), Rokusho Shrine
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Ōiso Town(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Kōno Matsuri is a festival where from the shrines ranked First through Fifth in Sagami Province, along with the mikoshi of the provincial grand shrine, Rokusho Shrine, gather in Ōiso Town. After the traditional seating dialogue at Kamisoyama, ceremonies including the meeting of the deities are held at Ōyaba. It is a Kanagawa Prefecture-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property, where prayers are offered for peace throughout the land and abundant harvests.
About Kōno Matsuri
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nesnad File:Oiso Konomachi - 2023 May 5 various 02 11 29 299000.jpeg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nesnad File:Oiso Konomachi - 2023 May 5 various 02 12 39 750000.jpeg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nesnad File:Oiso Konomachi - 2023 May 5 various 02 11 53 876000.jpeg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Kōno Matsuri is a festival where mikoshi from the shrines ranked First through Fifth in Sagami Province and the provincial grand shrine, Rokusho Shrine, gather in Kōno Hongo, Ōiso Town.
The traditional seating dialogue takes place at Kamisoyama, followed by the meeting of the deities, the provincial governor’s offering, and the divine judgment ceremony at Ōyaba.
This festival offers prayers for peace throughout the land and abundant harvests. In the past, it was also called the Tango Festival or the Tenka Festival.
The gathering of the six shrines of Sagami Province reflects the region’s history surrounding the provincial government center and its grand shrine.
Source: 国府祭 県無形文化財 – 六所神社ホームページ
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the traditional seating dialogue, a ritualized reenactment of the dispute over which shrine is the First Shrine between Samukawa Shrine and Kawawa Shrine.
The priests of the two shrines take turns laying down tiger skins as they advance, and the dispute concludes with the Third Shrine mediating: “Let it be settled by next year.”
At Ōyaba, the mikoshi of the six shrines gather, and dances of the heron, dragon, and lion are performed on a boat-shaped stage.
The dances embody prayers for peace throughout the land, abundant harvests, and the removal of misfortune.
Prayers for Sagami conveyed through six shrines’ mikoshi and a traditional seating dialogue
What to expect
The festival proceeds through events including Rokusho Shrine’s Hamakudari ceremony and the departure ceremonies of the individual shrines.
The mikoshi of five shrines gather at Kamisoyama, where the five-shrine festival ceremony, chimaki rice-cake throwing, and the seating dialogue starting at noon take place.
The mikoshi of Rokusho Shrine is then welcomed, and the procession moves to Ōyaba, where the Sagi no Mai dance, the offering of 75 dishes, the meeting of the deities, the provincial governor’s offering, and the divine judgment ceremony follow.
After the ceremonies, the mikoshi of the individual shrines depart in turn.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival is held mainly at Kamisoyama and Ōyaba (Ōyaba).
Rokusho Shrine is located at 935 Kōno Hongo, Ōiso Town, Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture.
- Train and bus
From the south exit of Ninomiya Station on the JR Tokaido Line, take a Kanachu bus for about 10 minutes, get off at Kōno Shinjuku, then walk about 5 minutes.
Alternatively, from Ōiso Station on the JR Tokaido Line, take a Kanachu bus for about 14 minutes, get off at Kōno Shinjuku, then walk about 5 minutes.
- Parking
Rokusho Shrine has a parking lot.
Source: 国府祭 - Wikipedia / 相模國総社 六所神社｜体験・観光スポット ｜【公式】神奈川県のお出かけ・観光・旅行サイト「観光かながわNOW」
Address 935 Kōno Hongo, Ōiso Town, Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture (Rokusho Shrine)
Dates and season
The Kokufu Festival is held annually on May 5.
On the previous day, May 4, the Hama-oroshi rite is held at Rokusho Shrine.
May 5, the mikoshi of five shrines gather at Kamisuyama, then move to Aikoba after the seat debate, followed by shrine rites involving six shrines.
Source: 文化遺産データベース
Accommodation and hotels PR
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Nearby attractions
六所神社 (大磯町)
神奈川県中郡大磯町国府本郷にある神社
湘南平
神奈川県平塚市と大磯町の境にある丘陵
Origins and History of Kōno Matsuri
There are several traditions about the origins of Kōno Matsuri.
According to the history of Rokusho Shrine, the shrine was moved to its present site in Yōrō 2 (718), and the provincial grand shrine was established by enshrining together the divided spirits of Sagami Province’s major shrines.
Meanwhile, the cultural property description notes that it is said to have begun during the Yōrō era, but that details are unknown.
It was formerly called the Tango Festival and became known as Kōno Matsuri after the Meiji era.
Source: 六所神社 - 神奈川県神社庁
Official information
Information about Kōno Matsuri is available on the official website of Rokusho Shrine, the provincial grand shrine.
The site describes the festival grounds, the traditional seating dialogue, the meeting of the deities at Ōyaba, and the Sagi no Mai dance, among other things.
Rokusho Shrine’s address and the name of the festival can also be confirmed in the shrine information provided by the Kanagawa Prefecture Shrine Agency.
Kōno Matsuri at a Glance
Kōno Matsuri is a festival where the six shrines of Sagami Province gather at Kamisoyama and Ōyaba in Kōno Hongo, Ōiso Town.
The traditional seating dialogue symbolically reenacts a dispute over which shrine is the First Shrine, while dances of the heron, dragon, and lion and a ceremony in which the deities meet are held at Ōyaba.
It is held annually on May 5 and is designated a Kanagawa Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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