🎎 Murakami Grand Festival

The annual grand festival of the Nishinai Yahiko Shrine is held on July 6th for the evening festival and on July 7th for the main festival. The origin of this festival dates back to the 10th year of the Kan'ei era (1633) during the Edo period when the lord of the Murakami domain held a relocation ceremony for the new shrine building of Nishinai Yahiko Shrine, which is said to be the beginning of the Murakami Grand Festival. On the day of the festival, 14 horses and a procession of children lead the way, followed by three portable shrines parading through the city. The highlight of the parade is the "oshagiri" (屋台山車), which are festival floats. The oshagiri from 19 towns in Murakami are adorned with exquisite carvings, lacquer work, and other traditional crafts from Murakami. Each town's decorations are unique, with some oshagiri having a history of over 200 years. This festival, which holds significant historical value, is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan under the name "Murakami Matsuri Yatai Gyōji." During the festival, many vendors set up stalls, attracting large numbers of tourists. To ensure that visitors can fully enjoy the festivities, the vendors remain open until the following day, July 8th, which is a unique feature of the Murakami Grand Festival.

The annual grand festival of the Nishina Miyahiko Shrine has a history of nearly 400 years. It is held on July 6 for the evening festival and on July 7 for the main festival. There is also a float called "oshagiri" that parades through the streets. It has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of the country. During the festival, many stalls line the streets, attracting a large number of tourists.