Don’t miss traditional Japanese autumn festival in Sasebo on Nov. 1-3

(Photo courtesy of Sasebo Okunch Promotion Association )

Japan’s fall season is the perfect time to get out and appreciate the changing of the landscape with countless open-air events and festivals held throughout the nation.

Near Sasebo Naval Base, a 1,348-year-old Shinto shrine, Kameyama Hachimangu, will host its Sasebo Okunchi festival Nov. 1-3.

During this annual autumn festival, you can expect hundreds of dancers in kimono to perform a traditional michiyuki odori dance as the shrine’s chief priest on a holy horse, children in ancient festive attire and three mikoshi (portable shrine) parade through the streets of Sasebo City. The traditional ambiance will give you the feel of ancient samurai times.

On Nov. 1, the deity of the Kameyama Hachimangu shrine will be transferred to the portable shrines before they are carried over to the Matsuura Park during a Okudari (descent of God) procession. After spending the following day (Nov. 2) at the park, the deity on the mikoshi will come back to the shrine with an Onobori (ascension of God) procession Nov. 3.

During the festival, you can enjoy live performances by local marching bands, wadaiko drums, and traditional dances, as well as enjoy the many food and game booths.

“Sasebo Okunchi is an important annual traditional festival for Sasebo locals,” said Kazuya Masumoto, an executive member of Sasebo Okunchi Promotion Association. “With the festival, we welcome the deity of Kameyama Hachimangu and spend three days with the descended deity to wish for a rich harvest, prosperity, safety and peace of the world.”

“I hope a lot of American sailors from the naval base visit us to take a look at the traditional Sasebo festival,” Masumoto said.