Yata Fire Festival(yata no himatsuri)

八咫の火祭り

The Fire Portable Shrine Leads the Procession

This festival was started in 1999, when Japan EXPO Nanki-Kumano was held. A legend says that Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow, showed the way to Emperor Jinmu who had lost his way in the mountains of Kumano. In honor of this legend, a portable shrine made of steel and decorated with a Yatagarasu motif, accompanied by women in ancient costume parades from Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine to Oyunohara, the original location of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. At Oyunohara, an energetic performance of Oku-Kumano Taiko drumming takes place, and spectators also join in the “Kumano Yata Odori” dance.

Information

Area
Hongu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City (Oyunohara)
Season / Time zone
Summer( Last Saturday in August) / Late afternoon Night
Weather conditions
Sunny Cloudy
Frequency of appearance
Once a year

Access

Train & Bus: Take a train to JR Kii-Tanabe Sta. Take a Ryujin Bus bound for Hosshinmon-oji, and get off at Hongu Taisha-mae[本宮大社前](2hr.).  Car: 57 km (1 hr. 20 min.) from Hanwa Expressway Nanki-Tanabe Interchange. There are parking spaces on the bank of the Kumano River in front of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine.

Recommended spot

Tsugizakura-Oji Shrine > Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine