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A festival
excites me.
The taste
of the castle town lasts until now.

Utsunomiya has a long history. In temples and Shinto shrines
of the town, traditional festivals are still developed every
season. In addition, new events increase recently and attach
turnout. |
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| First Fair |
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In the season
when a piercing wind blows down from Mt. Nantai, lively street stalls
form a line in a row. The festival is filled with excitement that people
in search of mascots such as a Dharma doll, a midget drum, a yellow
crucian carp.
January 11th |
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| Otariya |
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Every January and December
the rite is held. Since Futaarayama Shrine moved here, the ceremony
was held at midnight and called “Watariya” (relocated it
at night). People called it with an accent and it was changing into “Otariya” for
a long time.
January 15th |
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| Sacred Shinto Music and Dancing |
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The Shinto ritual music and
dancing continues from the middle of Edo period. Shinto priests call
it “Miyabiryu-Daidaikagura”. The rite is held on January,
May, September, 28th every year.
City designated Intangible Cultural
Asset.
January 28th |
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| The Flower Festival |
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The flower festival forms
a lot of street stalls lining on both sides of an approach to Futaarayama
Shrine. Mascots such as a Dharma doll, a midget drum, a yellow beech
are sold.
February 1st |
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| Sacred Shinto Music and Dancing |
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For the sacred music and
dance of Yasaka Shine, Shinto priesthood goes to Kanda Myojin in the
Edo era, and it is said that we handed down a skill of the sacred music
and dance.
City designated Intangible Cultural Asset.
Last Sunday of February |
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| Cherry Blossom Festival |
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After starting Hachimanyama
Park where about 700 cherry trees are in full glory, Mt.Tage, Shinkawa
festival are performed in each city place. Illuminated Cherry blossoms
with paper-covered mantels are beautiful.
early April |
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| Tobusai at Horigome |
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The folk entertainment with
sacred music and dancing performed in Shinto shrines dedicated to ritual
music and dancing of Shinto shrines festival has the history. It began
as a farming courtesy to pray for a good harvest in the Heian era,
and it was incorporated in festival events of a Shinto shrine afterwards.
City designated Intangible Cultural Asset.
May 15th |
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| Chinowa-Kuguri |
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One of the great purification
types performed every year in June and December. The thing of
an act of God in June, a ring of sedge or thatch pass through a ring
of
a diameter of 2m, and pray for a perfect state of health during summer.
June 30th |
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| Tennou Festival |
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Annual festival of July of
the Suka Shinto shrine is held in the precincts of Futaatayama Shrine.
The best show is the parent-child first meeting of portable shrines.
The scene of each portable shrines parading around the city in the
town block running up a stone stairway meet is a must.
July 15th to 20th |
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| Miya-festival |
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It is developed around the
main street of Utsunomiya, by the theme “Happy encounter and
contact” called “Deai-to-Fureai”. A festival, about
80 miniature shrines parading around is the greatest one on both days.
First Saturday and Sunday of August |
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| The lion dance |
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The Soen dance (Nissato-cho),
the lion dance of Sekibori (Sekibori-cho), the lion dance of Iiyama
(Iiyama-cho), the lion dance of Kamiyokokura (Kamiyokokura-cho) are
performed. City designated Intangible Cultural Asset.
during Bon Festival in August |
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| Kagura of Kawaraya |
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The dance of country, the
dance of a long-nosed goblin etc. are dedicated in the season of a
piercing wind and votive offerings such as a rice cake, a mandarin
orange are
scattered around. Noh dance preserving society is formed now, and a
successor is brought up steadily, too.
January 5th |
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It is the main festival of
Futarayama Shrine. The deity, Toyokiirihiko-no-Mikoto of Futarayama
Shrine enshrined in the portable shrine, parades in the town of
Utsunomiya. Heroic horseback archery is performed.
The last Saturday and Sunday of October |
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| The bicycle road race of Japan Cup |
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The bicycle racers is competing
the speed gather from all over the world to Utsunomiya. There are a
mountain and a valley in the course. The racers and watchers are interested.
It is the gorgeous event that the world pays attention to Utsunomiya.
Late October |
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| Gyoza festival |
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The Festival started in 1999.
Not only Utsunomiya gyouza (spiced minced pork wrapped in a small pancake
and steamed or fried) but also the king of dumpling from all over the
world can be tasted in Festival. The speed competition of eating Utsunomiya
gyouza is popular, too.
First Saturday and Sunday of November |
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| Otariya |
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Every January and December
the rite is held. The ritual of cremating charms, amulets, talismans
and dharma dolls of the year is performed.
December 15th |
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