the Kangen festival
| The Kangen festival is the most famous, amazing and large-scale of festival
in Itsukushima Shrine, also it's really historical. It's helds on the 17th
June of the lunar calender every year. Kangen means tradi-tional orchestra
in Japanese. . This Kangen tradtion began during the Heian period, in which the aristcracy enjoyed a elegantly boating on rivers and ponds in Kyoto..The Kangen accompanied the aristcracy during these outings. Taira-no-Kiyomori, who constructed the current Itsukushima Shrine and was also the most powerful person of the late Heian era, brought this culture to Miyajima, as a Shinto ritual. This festival has been a cu-ltural event for over 850 years. The Kangen boat, that is decorated with paper-covered lanterns hung on poles, flags and colorful curtains sails between Itsukusima Shrine and its outer shrine Jigozen Shrine. Two bonfires are burned on opposite sides of the bow at dusk. It's at this time that three goddesses are dedicated in the portable shrine and while cruising the Kangen orchestra, made up of Shinto priests, performs. Can you imagine how mysterious and incredible this festival is, exceeding even your imagination! . |
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| The boat starts under the Otorii at 17:00, reaches Jigozen Shrine at 20:20,
and comes back to Itsukushima Shrine at 23:30. It will be high tide by
the time it comes back to Itsukushima Shrine. .. As I said before, the festival is spread out over a wide area, so it's hard to see everythig, but you can enjoy the highlights of festival. However, I'll tell you the best ways to really enjoy it bellow. . (I strongly recommend these ways) . [1] You ride a charter boat(A-course) from Miyajima pier and go along with the Kangen boat from in front of Otorii to almost half way to Jigozen Shrine. You can enjoy heroic, powerful sailing together with the sound of Japanese drums. Yong boys shake battons and shout encouragement. On the way back, you will pass in front of Nagahama Shrine, one of the shrines connected with Itsukushima Shrine. .. It starts at 17:40 and comes back at 19:00. It's costs 2000yen per adult. .... |
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[2] There's another charter boat, the Yakatabune a traditional pleasure boat(B-course) that goes along with the Kangen boat from Jigozen Shrine to Miyajima pier. With this, while that you can enjoy not only the Kangen boat at dark, but also the night view around Hirosima bay. Finaly a lot of people put up festival lanterns and welcome you at Nagahama Shrine. . It starts at 20:00 and comes back at 21:30. It costs 2500yen per adult. .. |
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[3] Lastly you have to go to Itsukushima Srine to see its climax. The kangen boat comes back to Itsukus-hima Shrine, passing under the Otorii, by 100's/1000's of visitors. The Kangen boat turns round three times in the narrow space, and which that, the kangen festival finishes. I bet it's the most moving sight you've ever seen. One more thing, you have to stay in Miyajima, because it's too late to catch a ferry back. |
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| Anyway the Kangen festival will be held on the 13th of July next year. You need to make an advance reservation for cruising at the Miyajima sightseening association by phone bellow. You can apply up too two months before the Kangen festival. It's really popular these days, so you should call them as soon as posible. TEL:0829-44-2011 |
The Emperor Suiko Yohai Memorial Service
| (A ritual to honor from afar Emperor Suiko) Saeki Kuramoto, a powerful clan chief around Miyajima received a message from an oracle, and got Imperial sanction to build a small shrine in the same place of current Itsukushima Shrine. Thanks to Emperor Suiko, the original Itsukushima Shrine was constructed in 593. Emperor Suiko passed away on May 18th in 628, and was buried in the southeast side of Osaka prefecture. Thus Itsukushima Shrine has held the Memorial Service as a Shinto ritual since then. It is said that the Shinto ritual has been held for about 1400 years. The Shinto Ritual starts at 9 am. on May 18th at the Takabutai stage every year, after that five Bugakus are offered by Shinto priests. This is not such a big festival like the Kangen festival or the Kiyomori festival, but for Itsukushima Shrine, it’s one of the most important festivals |
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