Tochigi · Nikkō
Nikkō Tōshōgū Spring Festival
日光東照宮春季大祭
A thousand-strong warrior procession moving through the cedar avenue, in rites for Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Next
17–18 May 2027
206 days away
Every year, 17 May, for 2 days
Future dates: 17 May 2027 · 17 May 2028 · 17 May 2029
Origin
It re-enacts the journey that carried Ieyasu's remains from Shizuoka to Nikkō. The procession is therefore not a pageant but an annual retracing of a journey that actually took place.
What to look for
Armoured warriors, matchlocks, bows and palanquins proceed in single file up the cedar-lined approach. Because the backdrop is enormous trees rather than buildings, it looks nothing like other warrior processions. The horseback archery the day before is worth catching too.
How to watch
The approach is sacred ground; keep the procession's path entirely clear. Stay on the marked walkways so the cedar roots are not trampled.
Where
Nikkō Tōshōgū
Nikkō, Tochigi
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