Oura Jinja Keiba Shinji

An autumn grand festival held at Oura Jinja in Yorishima-cho, Asakuchi City, distinguished by the service and gallop of sacred horses. The miya-iri procession, featuring the and sacred boat, is followed by 2 sacred horses racing around the .

About Oura Jinja Keiba Shinji

The Oura Jinja Keiba is a ritual held as part of the autumn grand festival at Oura Jinja in Yorishima-cho, Asakuchi City.

The miya-iri procession, featuring the mikoshi, sacred horses, a sacred boat, servants, and senzairaku, is followed by 2 sacred horses galloping around the shrine grounds.

The custom of including sacred horses in the is said to have begun with the shinko procession held in connection with Lord Hosokawa Michitada’s relocation of the shrine.

Source: 大浦神社公式サイト｜国内唯一の特殊神事「競馬神事」県下最大級の本殿は登録有形文化財に登録されています。

Festival highlights

Highlights include the traditional miya-iri procession, joined by the mikoshi and sacred horses, followed by the Keiba Junikake Shinji.

In the Keiba Junikake Shinji, 2 sacred horses gallop 12 laps around the shrine grounds.

The spirited contest between 2 sacred horses is a distinctive scene that also reflects the origin of the festival’s name.

Two sacred horses gallop in a time-honored shinko festival rooted in Yorishima

What to expect

The autumn grand festival takes place on Saturday and the following Sunday, with the miya-iri and Keiba Junikake Shinji held on Sunday.

During the miya-iri, the mikoshi, sacred horses, a sacred boat, servants, and senzairaku form a procession.

Afterward, 2 sacred horses gallop 12 laps around the shrine grounds, demonstrating before your eyes the role of the horses included in the shinko procession.

Location and access

Venue and address: Oura Jinja, 7756 Yorishima-cho, Asakuchi City
Train and bus: From JR Sanyo Main Line’s Kamogata or Satosho Station, drive about 10 minutes south
By car: About 15 minutes south from the Sanyo Expressway’s Kamogata Interchange
Parking: 10 vehicles

Address 7756 Yorishima-cho, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: First Saturday and the following Sunday in October
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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Origins and History of Oura Jinja Keiba Shinji

The Keiba Shinji is said to have begun in 1559, when Hosokawa Michitada moved the shrine to Oura and included 40 sacred horses in the shinko procession.

Since then, it has been customary to include sacred horses in the shinko procession.

Today, at the formal horse-selection ceremony on September 1, 1 sacred horse is chosen from each of the Jikata and Ryoke lineages to serve at the autumn grand festival.

Official information

大浦神社公式サイト：大浦神社公式サイト｜国内唯一の特殊神事「競馬神事」県下最大級の本殿は登録有形文化財に登録されています。