Ōharae-shiki

Festival highlights

The highlight is the chinowa set up in the shrine grounds.

Visitors pass through the chinowa to cleanse themselves of the sins and impurities of the past six months and pray for good health.

The concise ritual, performed in the quiet shrine grounds, has a distinctive atmosphere: it helps people refresh their minds and bodies at a seasonal turning point and pray for the health of the community.

Source: 健康願い茅の輪くぐり 川勾神社で大祓式 | 大磯・二宮・中井 | タウンニュース

A Ninomiya ritual of passing through the chinowa to cleanse away six months of impurities

What to expect

At the Ōharae-shiki, participants purify themselves by passing through the chinowa in the shrine grounds and cleanse themselves of the sins and impurities of the past six months.

In past ceremonies, a priest recited the Ōharae norito, after which attendees sprinkled kirinusa over their bodies and passed through the chinowa 3 times in a figure-eight pattern.

Visitors pray for good health and protection from illness through a series of Shinto rituals.

How to take part

There are past examples of general visitors attending, and you can pray for good health by passing through the chinowa alongside priests and shrine staff.

Attendees respect the progress of the ritual and take part by following the instructions.

As the extent of participation and reception procedures on the day may vary from one ceremony to another, it is advisable to check with Kawawa Shrine before your visit.

There are past examples of general visitors taking part, and you can pray for blessings by passing through the chinowa.

As no special application procedure or reception location has been confirmed, please follow the shrine’s guidance on the day.

For certainty about the date and time or how to attend, contact Kawawa Shrine directly.

Location and access

Venue and address

Kawawa Shrine (2122 Yamanishi, Ninomiya, Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture).

Train and bus

Take a bus from JR Ninomiya Station for about 5 minutes, get off at Oshikirizakaue bus stop, then walk about 10 minutes.

By car

Kawawa Shrine has parking.

Parking

Parking available.

Address 2122 Yamanishi, Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season

June, December

Frequency

2 times a year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Nearby attractions

Around Kawawa Shrine, visitors are encouraged to combine a visit with Futami Memorial Museum in Ninomiya and Azumayama Park.

At Futami Memorial Museum, you can view works and related materials by Toshifushi Futami, a Western-style painter with ties to Ninomiya.

From the summit of Azumayama Park, you can enjoy views of Ninomiya’s townscape and Sagami Bay, as well as seasonal flowers.

Official information

For information about the event, including its date, you can contact Kawawa Shrine directly.

Kawawa Shrine is located in Yamanishi, Ninomiya, and its guidance lists the Ōharae-shiki as an event held in June and December.

Ōharae-shiki at a Glance

The Ōharae-shiki is a Shinto ritual held at Kawawa Shrine in June and December, centered on passing through the chinowa.

This event involves cleansing away the sins and impurities of the past six months and praying for good health in the months ahead. There are also past examples of general visitors taking part.

You can confirm the specific date of the 2026 event by contacting Kawawa Shrine.