The Jinkosai Grand Festival is the most important annual festival at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Dating back to 1101, this five-day autumn celebration honors Sugawara no Michizane, the shrine’s enshrined deity, while praying for a bountiful harvest and the peace and well-being of the community. It is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture.
The festival begins at 15:00 on Sep. 21 with the opening ceremony. On the evening of Sep. 22, attendants dressed in Heian-period court attire accompany the portable shrine in the Okudari-no-Gi procession to Enoki Shrine, where Michizane is believed to have once lived. On Sep. 23, the ancient court dance Yamatomai is performed at Enoki Shrine from 14:00, followed by the departure of the portable shrine at 15:30. After stopping at Ukiden, the procession returns to the main shrine, where the Kangyosai ceremony begins at 19:30.
The festival continues with the Koshiki Kensensai offering ceremony at 19:00 on Sep. 24 and the Reitaisai grand festival at 11:00 on Sep. 25. From 20:00 on the final evening, thousands of candles illuminate Shinji Pond during the Sentomyo ceremony, accompanied by a sacred miko kagura dance performance. The ethereal candlelit setting provides a fitting finale to one of Kyushu’s most historic shrine festivals.
太宰府天満宮
- Sep. 21, 2026 (Mon, hol) ~ Sep. 25, 2026 (Fri)
- Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
- 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka
- Website
太宰府天満宮