The Reitaisai (Grand Festival) will be held next May 17 and 18 at Toshogu Shrine, so you shouldn’t miss it if you are in the area!
From 10 in the morning on May 17, a ceremony is held at the shrine in the presence of the head of the Tokugawa family, Sanshikai officials, and other dignitaries and guests.
From 1pm, archery on horseback is be performed in a special area, and in the evening three portable shrines are brought to Futarasan Shrine and the Yoinari-sai (Evening Arrival Ceremony) is conducted by priests from both shrines.
On May 18, the Portable Shrine Procession (Mikoshi togyo sai) will start at 11am. It is referred to as the procession of 1,000 Samurai and it includes over 1,200 attendants divided into 53 categories, including warriors in armor who will escort the portable shrines to the Sojourn Hall.
Also, special food offerings will be made, and other activities such as Sacred Artistic Rites performed by Eight Shrine Maidens and incantations read by the Chief Priest will be performed.
The ceremony will end when the procession returns to Toshogu Shrine.
