Portable Shrines Advance to the Sound of Giant Drums Fuchu City – Okunitama Shrine Kurayami Festival
Event Period:Early May
Venue:Fuchu City
The Kurayami Festival is the grand annual festival of Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu City. It begins on April 30 with the Shinagawa Kaijo Misogiharae Ceremony, during which seawater is drawn from offshore Shinagawa, and continues through May 6 with the Mikoshi Kango, when the portable shrines return to the shrine. During these seven days, more than twenty religious ceremonies and events are held.
The festival’s name, “Kurayami” meaning “darkness,” comes from a long-standing tradition in which the portable shrine procession was once conducted late at night in complete darkness after all the town’s lights were extinguished. The seawater collected off Shinagawa is used throughout the festival period for purification rituals known as kessai, intended to cleanse both body and spirit.
Festivities During Golden Week
As May begins—coinciding with Japan’s Golden Week holidays—many events take place.
On the night of May 3, a lively performance of Fuchu Bayashi traditional festival music is held along the zelkova-lined avenue. On the historic Koshu Kaido road, a ceremony called Komakurabe takes place, in which four horses run back and forth three times. This ritual originates from the ancient custom of selecting horses to be presented to the imperial court.
On May 4, about twenty neighborhood associations from across the city gather for the Children’s Mikoshi Joint Procession, where children carry portable shrines toward the shrine’s worship hall from the large torii gate.
That afternoon, the Manto Festival is held in front of the torii gate. Participants create colorful lantern displays called manto, made by layering thin decorative paper called sakura-gami into flower shapes and attaching them to branches. These elaborate lantern structures are then spun gracefully, creating a beautiful spectacle.
Later in the evening, some of Japan’s largest festival drums gather in front of the torii gate. The powerful sound of the giant taiko drums reverberates throughout the shrine grounds.
Lantern Floats and Festival Music
Also on May 4, twenty-two ornate festival floats known as dashi, representing local neighborhoods, parade through the streets in procession. Accompanied by festive music, they travel along the Koshu Kaido and the zelkova-lined avenue.
As evening falls, rows of floats illuminated by lanterns move slowly through the streets. The sight of multiple glowing floats against the dusk sky creates a truly magical atmosphere.
The Spectacular Giant Drum
The highlight of the festival takes place on May 5.
At noon, before the Mikoshi Procession, a purification ritual called the Michikiyome Ceremony is performed to cleanse the route the shrines will travel. This is followed by the Taiko Okurikomi, when six giant drums appear to lead the procession.
The largest drum measures about two meters in diameter and is known as the Osakibarai Daiko, said to be the largest drum in Japan. Its thunderous sound echoes like a rumbling earthquake, shaking the bodies of spectators who gather to watch.
The Night Procession of Eight Portable Shrines
In the evening, at 6:00 p.m., fireworks signal the start of the main procession. Eight portable shrines depart from Okunitama Shrine one after another, guided by the booming drums and accompanied by the rhythmic chant of “Oisa, Oisa.”
The shrines proceed along the approach road and the Koshu Kaido toward the Otabisho, a temporary resting place located at the intersection with Fuchu Kaido. In recent years, the route has also extended through the zelkova-lined avenue.
Each portable shrine weighs nearly one ton, and their immense weight creates a powerful spectacle as they sway and advance slowly through the crowds. By the time they reach the Otabisho, night has fallen completely. As this procession concludes, the excitement of the festival reaches its peak.
The Return at Dawn
Early the next morning, May 6, beginning at around 4:00 a.m., the portable shrines that have traveled through the local neighborhoods begin returning to the shrine.
Bathed in the morning sunlight, the sight of the shrines returning together creates a very different atmosphere from the dramatic nighttime procession. In front of the worship hall, the carriers repeatedly sway and circle the shrines before the festival finally comes to an end.
During the festival, the shrine grounds are filled with numerous food stalls and vendors. With crowds of around 800,000 visitors, it is one of the largest festivals in the Tama region.
| Event Period | Early May |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-1 Miyamachi, Fuchu City, Tokyo |
| Website | |
| Access | 5-minute walk from Fuchu Station on the Keio Line Note: Festival dates may change depending on the year. Please contact the shrine for the exact schedule. |
| Discover more about the Tama region | https://at-tama.tokyo/lang_en/ Photos courtesy of Takako Shigegaki |
