Sumiyoshi Festival

Osaka is the land full of festivals and celebrations. Sumiyoshi festival in Osaka is the purification at the Sumiyoshitaisha Grand Shrine. Summer is the perfect time to engage in Sumiyoshi festival in Osaka .

Sumiyoshi festival in Osaka takes place during the balmy period of late July and early August. This celebration allows children and young geisha to carry portable shrines on a trek up to the Grand Shrine . The grand shrine's four wings are built in what is known as the Sumiyoshi Style. It is long revered as enshrining the gods of seafaring, purification and song.

The building of the Grand Shrine is roofed with cedar bark and feature a gabled roof and door motif. The current building was created circa 1810. The unique structure has been designated a national treasure. There are more than 600 stone lanterns within the grounds. most of these stone lanterns were donated by merchants from Osaka, Sakai, and many other areas nationwide. Many of the shrine's festivals and ceremonies are very well known, including the U-no Ha ritual in May, Rice Planting Festival on June 14, and the Sumiyoshi Festival between July 30 and August 1 . The shrine's grounds are home to a number of important cultural assets, including the stone stage, the south gate, and the east and west auditoria.

Features of the Sumiyoshi Festival in Osaka

The features of Sumiyoshi Festival in Osaka include:

• Nagoshi Ohharai (purification in summer) with the participation of Nagoshi girls from Imazato-shinchi, children and citizens is an essential part of this festival

• After the holy spirits are transferred to the mikoshi portable shrine and Horen palanquin, Togyo Matsuri, a procession to Shukuin Tongu (Angu) in Sakai, takes place.

• As the mikoshi reaches Shukuin a ceremony is conducted. Aranigo-no-Ohharai is conducted at Iigaibori, as with Nagoshi Ohharai.

• Traditionally participants walk through a "magic grass ring" and emerge purified.

• The procession runs through the streets of Osaka and heads to Sakai City where a traditional ceremony takes place.

Season to Visit the Sumiyoshi Festival in Osaka

Sumiyoshi Festival in Osaka is celebrated during the month of July.