I’ve been to numerous festivals in Japan (one of the upsides of living here). But in the three and a half years of living here, I’ve never actually participated in one. That all changed when I was invited by JTB West to make a video about the 940-year-old Kamo Taisai Grand Festival in Okayama Prefecture. What an amazing experience!
The bus ride from Osaka took about three hours to our final destination of Kibi-Chuo. Our first stop was the Sansho Shrine where we ate a delicious bento lunch and got our first look at the mikoshi or portable shrine we’d be carrying. The impressive gleam of the gold and finely detailed ornamentation were quite the sight to behold.
Next up was an initial practice run where we carried the mikoshi a little way up the forest path near the Sansho Shrine. Weighing in at about 400 kilograms, it took the strength of 14 men to confidently carry it.
In the late afternoon, we were taken on an electric bike tour around Kibi-Chuo. The picturesque mountains were a nice respite after the energy-sapping mikoshi carry. At one point we were taken to the absolute centre of Okayama Prefecture, marked by impressive, large stones.
In the evening, we arrived at our ryokan (Japanese inn) and were given our clothing for the festival. We had another delicious meal; this time ryokan style food and then headed to the on-site onsen (hot spring) to soak our weary bodies.
Kamo Taisai festival day started at 5:00 AM. Upon waking we quickly dressed in our new festival wear and headed downstairs for a lovely breakfast. Then it was off to Sansho Shrine.
The shrine’s Shinto priests were dressed in Heian Period clothing. They offered snacks and sake to the god of the mikoshi and bestowed a Shinto blessing on us. The mikoshi was then lifted onto the back of a kei-truck (mini truck) for the drive to the festival site at Sojagu Shrine. We all followed behind the truck on foot.
Upon arriving at the festival, I discovered that there were eight mikoshi in total at this festival. It was bigger than I could have ever imagined. The entertainment and atmosphere was electric. Then came time for us to carry the mikoshi onto the Sojagu Shrine grounds. Along the way, we jostled the shrine and chanted, partly blessings but also for an impressive show for the audience. Later that day, we did it again on a much grander scale with all the other mikoshi.
This was a once in a lifetime experience that was truly special.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
LIN NYUNT 