Celebrate Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine’s most important festival, held in honor of its enshrined deity Sugawara Michizane, also known as Tenjin-sama. This festival is a time to give thanks for abundant harvests and to pay tribute to the divine virtues of Michizane.
People dressed in Heian-period attire—the era when Michizane lived—carry a portable shrine (mikoshi) that houses his divine spirit. They proceed to his former dwelling, the Enoki Shrine, in a ritual known as the “Descending Ceremony” (Okudari no Gi). The mikoshi stays overnight before returning to the main hall in an “Ascending Ceremony” (Onobori no Gi) that takes place on the day of the autumn equinox. These rituals are reminiscent of dynastic scroll paintings and feature various offerings and ceremonies.
The festival comes to a close on the final night with the “Sentomyo,” a poignant ceremony where countless candles are placed around Shinji Pond to comfort the divine spirit of Tenjin-sama. This is followed by a sacred Kagura dance performed by shrine maidens. Don’t miss this enchanting and spiritually uplifting festival that celebrates both the divine and the historical.
9/21
15:00 Jinkoshiki tai-sai ceremony start
9/22
19:00 Sengyo-sai
20:00 Leave Gohonden
22:00 Arrive in Enokisha, Angukensen-sai
9/23 (autumn equinox day)
14:00 Yamatomai sojo
15:30 Leave Enokisha
18:00 Arrive in Ukidono, Ukidono kensen-sai
18:30 Leave Ukidono
19:30 Arrive in Gohonden, kangyo-sai
9/24
19:00 Koshiki kensen-sai
9/25
11:00 Rei-sai
20:00 Sentomyo, Miko kagura hono
• 9/21 (Thu.) ~ 9/25 (Mon.)
• Sentomyo: 9/25 20:00
• Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
• 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka
• https://bit.ly/45xjH83
• https://www.instagram.com/dazaifutenmangu.official/
