Tokyo Tama Tourist Site

Nestled quietly in the lush satoyama countryside of Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji City, Mitake Shrine holds its annual grand festival (Reitaisai) every year in mid-September.

The highlight of the festival is the dedication of a traditional lion dance called “Ryut? no Mai” (Dance of the Dragon-Head Lion), a local variant of the *shishimai*. The dance is performed over two days, Saturday and Sunday, at both Mitake Shrine and the nearby Sairenji Temple?the latter being where this particular lion dance is said to have originated.

What is the Mitake Shrine Grand Festival?

At the entrance of the shrine, six women in elegant arrow-feather-patterned kimono (yagasuri), each wearing a large red flower hat, form a vivid and festive scene.

The ritual begins with the “B?zukai” (staff performance), a sacred opening act performed by young boys to purify the space. The sharp *clack* of wooden staffs striking each other echoes through the air as they cleanse the grounds with rhythmic shouts.

Next comes the lion dance, with performers wearing lion masks and small drums tied to their waists. Accompanied by dry percussive sounds, they perform the “Fujigakari no Mai” (Wisteria Dance), followed by the tense “Tachigakari no Mai” (Sword Dance), a dramatic depiction of a battle between the lion and a swordsman.

The performance concludes with everyone singing “Ch?j?raku,” a passage from the classical Noh play *Takasago*, praying for everlasting peace and prosperity.

The Intense Sword Dance ? “Tachigakari no Mai”

Although the festival was held on a smaller scale during the pandemic, the “Fujigakari no Mai” and “Tachigakari no Mai” have never ceased to be performed. Tradition dictates that “no matter what happens, these dances must be carried out.”

The Sword Dance, in particular, captures the audience with its air of tension and solemn beauty as the swordsman and lion enact their ritual combat.

Event Period	Mid-September
Access	From JR Hachioji Station (North Exit), take a Nishi Tokyo Bus bound for *Utsukidai via Owada* or *Utsukidai via Tokai University Hospital*. Get off at Ishikawa Miyashita stop and walk about 5 minutes.
Website	https://www.city.hachioji.tokyo.jp/kankobunka/003/003/006/001/p005216.html This article was brought to you by the editorial team of “Another TOKYO TAMA”, operated by the Tama Tourism Promotion Council, which provides sightseeing information for Hachioji City and the entire Tama region.
Discover more about the Tama area	https://at-tama.tokyo/lang_en/ Photos courtesy of Takako Shigegaki