Yamakura Salmon Festival

The Yamakura Salmon Festival, passed down in Yamakura, Katori City, is a Hatsu-U Festival featuring the offering of salmon. The procession presenting salmon and the take place at Yamakura Ōkami and Kanpuku-ji, and amulets are also distributed at Yamakura Ōkami on the day of the festival.

About Yamakura Salmon Festival

The Yamakura Salmon Festival is a Hatsu-U Festival held at Yamakura Ōkami and Kanpuku-ji in Yamakura, Katori City.

Because salmon is offered, the festival is also known as the Salmon Festival, an alternate name for the Hatsu-U Festival.

At Yamakura Ōkami, the salmon is regarded as an offering to the Dragon Palace, and amulets are distributed to worshippers in connection with the festival.

Centered on the offering of salmon, this event carries on the faith passed down at the shrine and temple, as well as the region’s festival culture.

Source: 山倉の鮭祭り：香取市ウェブサイト

Festival highlights

Highlights include the time-honored procession presenting salmon and the mikoshi togyo held in the evening.

The day before the festival, a religious rite at Yamakura Ōkami features the Shirakawa-ryū knife ceremony, in which salmon is cut into small pieces; on the day itself, the pieces are distributed as amulets.

Salmon is prized as a symbol of warding off misfortune, and has become a symbol of local faith as well as the festival’s name.

Kanpuku-ji also has a tradition of offering salmon, giving visitors a chance to learn about the distinct origins associated with the two locations.

Yamakura’s prayers, carried by salmon offerings and the mikoshi

What to expect

At Yamakura Ōkami, salmon offered the day before the festival is cut into small pieces in the Shirakawa-ryū knife ceremony.

On the day of the festival, a procession presenting salmon is formed. After the festival rites are performed, the mikoshi togyo takes place in the evening.

Amulets made from the pieces of salmon are distributed to worshippers on the day of the festival.

The practice of offering salmon is still passed down at Kanpuku-ji.

How to take part

The festival procession, religious rites, and mikoshi togyo are held as offering ceremonies passed down in the local community.

Visitors may watch the festival and receive amulets distributed at Yamakura Ōkami on the day of the festival.

Participation requirements for the procession and mikoshi togyo have not been announced.

Please follow the instructions of staff and event personnel so as not to interfere with local religious rites.

Location and access

Venue and address

Yamakura Ōkami and Kanpuku-ji.

The event is held at 2347-1 Yamakura, Katori City, and other locations.

Train and bus

Take a Keisei Bus or Chiba Kōtsū bus from Hamamatsuchō or Tokyo Station bound for Chōshi via Asahi, get off at Kurimoto, then drive for 5 minutes.

By car

20 minutes via the Tōsō Toll Road from the Daiei IC on the Higashi-Kantō Expressway, or 25 minutes from the Sawara-Katori IC.

Parking

Free parking is available around Yamakura Ōkami and nearby.

Space for several dozen standard cars.

Address 2347-1 Yamakura, Katori City, and other locations

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Dates and season

Season

Annually, December.

Yamakura Ōkami is on the first Sunday of December, and Kanpuku-ji is on December 7.

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Chiba Prefecture / Katori City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

The procession is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and the mikoshi togyo is scheduled for the evening, but the best places to watch may vary depending on the progress of the festival and crowd conditions.

As religious rites are held, please do not block the route of the procession or mikoshi, and follow the guidance of festival staff.

Amulets are distributed only on the day of the festival.

Since events take place at two locations, Yamakura Ōkami and Kanpuku-ji, allow plenty of time to travel between them.

Nearby attractions

Parks and gardensKatori City

Suigo Sawara Ayame Park

千葉県香取市にある植物園

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：katorisi / CC BY 2.5

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Temples and shrinesKatori City

Katori Jingu

千葉県香取市にある神社

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Origins and History of Yamakura Salmon Festival

The Yamakura Salmon Festival is a festival that was originally held on the first Hare day of the lunar month of Shimotsuki.

According to the shrine tradition, Yamakura Ōkami was founded on the first Hare day of Shimotsuki in Kōnin 2 (811).

Before the Meiji era, Yamakura-san Kanpuku-ji served as the bettō temple of Yamakura Ōkami, and it came to be called Yamakura Ōkami in Meiji 3 (1870), after the separation of Shinto and Buddhism.

There are several accounts of the salmon offering, and it has long been passed down as “salmon offered by the Dragon Palace deity.”

Source: アーカイブ香取遺産 Vol.061～070：香取市ウェブサイト

Official information

The Katori City official website provides information on the venues, usual timing, procession and mikoshi togyo schedules, transportation, parking, and inquiry contacts for the Yamakura Salmon Festival.

For inquiries, contact Yamakura Ōkami or Kanpuku-ji.

The festival is also registered as a Chiba Prefecture-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Source: 香取市の民俗文化財／千葉県