On August 17, 2025, I stepped into Tomioka Hachimangū for my very first Japanese traditional festival. It was the mikoshi procession day of Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri, blessed with perfect sunny weather and crowds that burned even brighter than the summer sun.
The most amazing moment was witnessing the famous “water-splashing festival.” Before the mikoshi appeared, people along the streets had already prepared all kinds of water-throwing tools – from small buckets to surprisingly huge water hoses.
When the mikoshi slowly passed by, cool water poured down like rain onto the portable shrine. Local people believe this washes away bad spirits and brings purification. What made it even more interesting was seeing many foreign tourists joining in with the locals, all sharing this sacred yet joyful ritual together.
The staff carrying the mikoshi were completely soaked, but their faces showed no displeasure at all – instead, they were filled with pure joy. Watching them play with children nearby created such heartwarming scenes that truly showed the human connections at the heart of the festival.
When it was time for the mikoshi to return to the shrine, the sacred side of the festival emerged. Workers carefully covered the deity with white cloth and respectfully carried it back into the shrine. Every believer along the path bowed deeply, and you could feel their sincere respect from the heart. The empty mikoshi was then moved to a special hall dedicated to storing these sacred objects.
The food stalls around the festival area added wonderful festive flavors, especially the grilled squid – the smell still lingers in my memory! This first Japanese festival experience made me fall in love with traditional culture and left me excited to explore other regional festivals across Japan.
