貴船神社

The food offered to the gods is called Mike or Shinsen. Mike is given to the kami everyday in the morning and in the evening.

Ritual performed at the beginning of the month praying for the prosperity of the nation and Imperial Family, as well as peace for Kibune and its shrine parishioners.

Temple festival with a deep divine connection. Based on another reading of “hatsutatsu” meaning development or growth, it is an auspicious day where national growth, happiness and the development and growth of all things are prayed for.

An important festival and a day with especially deep ties to the deities enshrined in the various subordinate shrines.

Held on New Year’s Day to celebrate the New Year and pray for the prosperity of the Imperial Family, continued national growth, and the prosperity of the shrine parishioners and local community.

Hatsutatsu-sai held on the first Day of the Dragon in January. Temple festival with a deep divine connection. Based on another reading of “hatsutatsu” meaning development or growth, it is an auspicious day where national growth, happiness and the development and growth of all things are prayed for.

One of the five seasonal rituals (gosekku-shinji). A ritual offering special sacred food and nanagusa-gayu (rice porridge with seven different spring herbs) to the kami. In the past, there existed a custom that involved praying for a good harvest by offering the kami seven different kinds of spring herbs.
The belief was that eating seven herb porridge on this day would drive away evil. In the naorai no gi (feast ceremony) administered at the end of the ritual, parishioners partake in the rice porridge taken from the altar together with the kannushi (Shinto priests).

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

The origin of the festival is said to come from kayu-ura (porridge divination) that used porridge to divine the fortune, weather, and harvest of that year. The ritual prays for an abundant harvest by offering the kami rice porridge with azuki beans.

*Followed by the old talisman and charm burning ceremony

In the fairy tale book Tales of Kibune (Kibune no Monogatari) from the late Muromachi period, it is recorded that the custom of trowing beans on Setsubun started at Kifune Shrine. The Meigen-shinji (ritual of resounding bowstrings) imitating the tradition of exorcising malevolence with the unique sound of a released bowstring, and the ceremony of scattering beans are performed to chase away demons and pray for the return of good luck.

On the National Founding Day (2/11) when the first Emperor Jinmu ascended to the throne, we pray for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and continued national growth.

Performed on the Emperor’s birthday. While expressing the spirit of celebration we pray for the Emperor’s longevity and continued health.

One of the five seasonal rituals (gosekku-shinji). Also called the Peach Festival, it is the day of the widely known Hinamatsuri festival. The festival prays for girl growth and health by decorating the inner shrine with hina dolls and offering special sacred food including peach blossoms and herb dumplings. In the naorai no gi (feast ceremony) administered at the end of the ritual, parishioners partake in the herb dumplings taken from the altar together with the kannushi (Shinto priests).

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

Due to a god of water is enshrined at Kifune Shrine it is also called the Rain Bringing Shrine (Amagoi no Yashiro). Before the farming seasons begins, we pray for adequate rains throughout the year and abundant crops in fall. While called Amagoi, meaning begging or praying for rain, it is a ritual that prays for favorable weather and adequate rain.

*Followed by the old ema votive burning ceremony

Festival praying for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and a peaceful year for Japan and its people. We pray for the growth of all industries, including an abundant harvest of Japan’s staple food, rice, as well as national strength.

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

Festival where we give thanks to the spirits of our ancestors and pray for the prosperity of the nation and Imperial Family.
On the same day, the “Shunki Korei-sai” is conducted at the imperial ancestor shrine in the shrine together with ceremonies for remotely praying at the service.
The festival is held twice per year on Vernal Equinox Day and Autumnal Equinox Day.

Ritual where the clothing the kami wear is changed. New summer kanmiso (divine clothing) is given to the kami in the inner sanctum of the main and rear shrines. In ancient time, the gokoui-sai was performed as the annual festival, which was the most important festival.

Festival near the start of the farming season praying for an abundant harvest. In ancient times it was also the Kifune Shrine prayer service for a bountiful harvest.

Performed on the Showa Emperor’s birthday. The great undertaking of the Showa emperor in restoring and developing Japan after the unprecedented World War II is honored while simultaneously praying for the prosperity of the Imperial Family, continued national growth, cultural promotion, industry improvement, and eternal peace.

One of the five seasonal rituals (gosekku-shinji). It is also called Boy’s Day (Tango no Sekku) and Iris Festival (Shoubu no Sekku).
Just how March 3rd is Girls’ Day, Boys’ Day on May 5th prays for boys’ growth and health by decorating the shrine precincts and inner shrine with koinobori (carp streamers) and samurai armor. In the naorai no gi (feast ceremony) administered at the end of the ritual, parishioners partake in the chimaki (cake wrapped in bamboo leaves) taken from the altar together with the kannushi (Shinto priests).

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

The most important festival and a day with an especially deep connection to the enshrined deity. A part of the Kifune deity is enshrined in the Omikoshi (portable shrine) which is paraded in Kibune to pray for peace for the region and the parishioners and worshipers.

On the day marking the end of the first half of the year defilements accumulated during the half-year are cleansed and prayers given for a safe summer and sound health for the remaining year. The “Ritual of Passing through the Grass Ring” is conducted in tandem with the ceremony.
Passing through the cogon grass ring will expel summer calamities such as illnesses and drive away bodily defilements.

*Open to the public (purification fee JPY 200 / person)

Festival giving thanks to the Kibune water god who grants us the blessing of water as well as praying for favorable weather and adequate rain for this year. In conjunction with the festival the Sasa no Sekku will be administered as part of Shichiseki no Sekku, one of the five seasonal rituals.

The Chrysanthemum Festival makes up the last of the five seasonal rituals. Petals of the chrysanthemum flower, valued as a flower with long life, is floated in sake which is then drunk to ward off evil spirits and pray for longevity and prosperity. In the naorai no gi (feast ceremony) administered at the end of the ritual, parishioners partake in the chrysanthemum sake taken from the altar together with the kannushi (Shinto priests).

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

Festival where we give thanks to the spirits of our ancestors and pray for the prosperity of the nation and Imperial Family.
On the same day, the “Shuuki Korei-sai” is conducted at the imperial ancestor shrine in the shrine together with ceremonies for remotely praying at the service.
The festival is held twice per year on Vernal Equinox Day and Autumnal Equinox Day.

Festival that gives thanks to the ancestors of parishioners enshrined in ancestral shrines of subordinate shrines and spirits of former head priests as well as praying for the peace of the Kibune region and its parishioners.

The Kanname-sai (First Fruits Festival) is held at Ise-jingu shrine to offer the new crop to the progenitor of the Imperial Family, Amaterasu-omikami. The festival is a ritual that celebrates the Kanname-sai.

Ritual where the clothing the kami wear is changed.
New winter kanmiso (divine clothing) is given to the kami in the inner sanctum of the main and rear shrines. In ancient time, the gokoui-sai was performed as the annual festival, which was the most important festival.

Performed on the Meiji Emperor’s birthday. The great undertaking of the Meiji emperor in developing Japan into a modern nation is honored while simultaneously praying for the prosperity of the Imperial Family, continued national growth, cultural promotion, industry improvement, and eternal peace.

Rituals where defilements are cleansed by the spiritual power of a blazing fire. It is a ritual of great significance that transmits the tradition of the advent of the Kifune deity said to have been birthed from the god of fire. Through this “rebirth” ritual we pray for the protection of the newly empowered Kifune deity.

Festival praying for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and a peaceful year for Japan and its people and giving thanks for the harvest. In the shrine, the emperor offers new crop to the kami, including Amaterasu-omikami and partakes of the crop himself.

*The first 30 people are able to attend the ceremony.

On the last day of the year all defilements are cleansed, the body and soul purified and invigorated and preparations made to welcome the New Year.

*Open to the public (purification fee JPY 200 / person)