Haijima Akishima Tokyo Japan

Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine

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Notice from Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine

The 256th Sakaki Matsuri Festival is scheduled to be held on Sept. 16-17, 2023.

A Short History of the Hiyoshi Jinja Shinto Shrine

BEGINNINGS

Although the origins of Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine are uncertain, it is thought to have been established as Sannosha (its previous name) during the Tensho era of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1591) at its current location, when the nearby Dainichido Temple was reconstructed.

THE ORIGIN OF SAKAKI MATSURI FESTIVAL

During the Edo era in 1741, Sannosha was granted the "Sanno Major Prize" (named after the god who governs mountains). To honor this recognition, villagers started making monthly contributions of one Mon (equal to about 16 yen today) per person from 1741 to rebuild the shrine. With the collected funds, the shrine underwent its first reconstruction, and to celebrate its completion, a portable shrine (Mikoshi) was created. The first festival was held on September 19, 1767, which marked the beginning of the shrine's annual festival, known today as the Sakaki Matsuri Festival (Sakaki is a sacred evergreen in Shinto).

The 253rd Sakaki Matsuri Festival(Sept. 2019)

CULTURAL ASSET OF TOKYO

The Fumyoji Temple holds the "Sanno Festival Drawing" (a tangible cultural asset of Akishima) that depicts the first festival. The Sakaki Matsuri Festival is still celebrated as closely as possible to the Sanno Festival Drawing and was designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Tokyo in 1955. In 2016, the portable shrine (Mikoshi) was restored with subsidies from the Tokyo Metropolitan and Akishima city governments, commemorating the 250th anniversary.

Sanno Festival Drawing

(PDF 2.23MB)

SHRINE BUILDINGS

The second reconstruction of the shrine buildings, including the Main building, Torii Gate, and God Bridge, began on September 1, 1851. More than 1,723 carpenters were mobilized, and over 470 Ryo (about 130,000 yen) were spent. The current shrine buildings were finished on September 9 the following year. A large-scale restoration project was funded by subsidies from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and public donations from 2005 to July 2008.

MAIN KAMI

The main gods of the shrine are Oyamakuino Mikoto, Kayamadono Mikoto, and Hayamadono Mikoto. In the Meiji era (1869), Sannosha was renamed Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine and separated from the management of Dainichido Temple following the separation order of Shinto and Buddhism.

HISTORIC SITE OF TOKYO

In 1992, the precincts of Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine and Dainichido Temple were designated as a historic site of Tokyo, as they are one of the few entities in Tokyo that maintain the old state of historical buildings. The main shrine of Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine and Hie Jinja Shrine is Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, located in Sakamoto Town at the foot of Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture.

GOSHUIN

Throughout the year, Goshuin is available, with special limited editions available during specific periods, such as the middle of March to the middle of April (symbolizing cherry blossoms), the middle of April to the middle of May (symbolizing wisteria), and the month of June (symbolizing Nagoshi no Oharae, summer purification rites held in June).

Some samples of Goshuin: