The festival at Tsuru-ga-Sone Kami-Hisaizu Shrine

Festival highlights

A highlight is the Yumibuchi scene, where arrows are shot at targets bearing an ogre image or the character “鬼” (ogre) to divine the year’s good or bad fortune.

Bows, arrows, and targets are prepared by the large, medium, and small groups, then offered before the deity along with sacred food.

For Hebinejiri, a straw serpent is made in the shrine precincts and enshrined along the Nakagawa embankment at the boundary between Hachijo and Tsuru-ga-Sone.

The straw serpent made by the upper group is said to be about ten meters long, preserving the form of an old festival.

The Tsuru-ga-Sone Festival, passed down through a straw serpent and arrow divination

What to expect

For Yumibuchi, each group makes bows, arrows, and targets, offers them before the deity along with sacred food, and conducts the ritual.

After the transfer of duties, arrows are shot at targets bearing an ogre image or the character “鬼” (ogre) to divine the year’s good or bad fortune.

Afterward, each group hosts a generous feast at its lodging place.

For Hebinejiri, a straw serpent is made in the shrine precincts, carried to and enshrined along the Nakagawa embankment at the village entrance, and used to ward off evil spirits and epidemics and pray for rain and the growth of rice seedlings.

Location and access

Venue and address

Tsuru-ga-Sone Kami-Hisaizu Shrine, 1941 Tsuru-ga-Sone, Yashio City

Address 1941 Tsuru-ga-Sone, Yashio City

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Dates and season

Season

January 20 and April 20

Frequency

Every year

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Origins and History of The festival at Tsuru-ga-Sone Kami-Hisaizu Shrine

Hisaizu Shrine is said to have been established in 1594, in the Bunroku 3 era. During the Edo period, Yakuo-ji, a Shingon Buddhist temple, served as its betto priest at the guardian shrine of Tsuru-ga-Sone Village.

It came under the management of Yakuo-ji Temple after the 1868 decree separating Shinto and Buddhism, and was designated a village shrine in 1873.

The main sanctuary and haiden were rebuilt in 1892, and have remained to the present day.

Yumibuchi and Hebinejiri have been passed down as local festivals expressing hopes for a good harvest, rain, village safety, and an abundant harvest.

The festival at Tsuru-ga-Sone Kami-Hisaizu Shrine at a Glance

The festival at Tsuru-ga-Sone Kami-Hisaizu Shrine consists of two festivals passed down at the guardian shrine of Tsuru-ga-Sone.

Yumibuchi, held on January 20, is an obisha rite in which arrows are shot at a target to divine the year’s good or bad fortune.

On April 20, Hebinejiri involves making a straw serpent and enshrining it along the Nakagawa embankment to ward off evil spirits and epidemics and pray for rain, the growth of rice seedlings, and an abundant harvest.

Both are listed as Yashio City-designated intangible folk cultural properties.