Festival

New year’s day festival

A festival to pray for peace and safety for the people of Japan and the world on the occasion of the New Year.
At the front of the hall of worship, sacred cards (3,000 cards prepared only for the New Year) are distributed on sticks, praying for ‘academic success’.

February

March

April

Itaya Shrine Spring Festival

This festival honors Itaya Heishiro, a hero who built the Tatsumi Irrigation Canal.
Morning prayers are held at Itaya Shrine (Kamitatsumi Town), and afternoon prayers at the shrine’s worship spot in our shrine area.

Kuragatake Hakusan Shrine Spring Festival

A spring festival at Kuragatake Hakusan Shrine in Kuragatake Town, Kanazawa.
This shrine is managed together with Kanazawa shrine.

Kenrokuen Neighborhood Prayer Festival

The festival which pray for the safety and happiness of people living near Kenrokuen Garden.

Grand Ritual of spring festival, Festival of Shrine support Association.

The most important festival of the year.
We thank the kami or their protection and pray for peace and the Imperial Family.
(Held at 11:00 a.m.)

May

Kenrokuen Opening Anniversary Festival

This festival celebrates the opening of Kenrokuen Garden to the public on 7th May, 1874.
On this day, a special tea ceremony is held at Uchihashitei, a teahouse usually closed to the public. The event is hosted by the Kenrokuen Tourism Association.

June

Water Gathering (Omizutori) for Kenroku Tea ceremonies

Part of the Hyakumangoku Festival. Tea masters from various schools host tea ceremonies in different parts of Kenrokuen Garden.
Before the tea ceremonies, sacred water is drawn from Kinjo Reitaku to be used for tea.

Chasen Memorial Service

After the sacred water ritual, a memorial service is held at the Chasen Mound in front of Seisonkaku villa. Used tea whisks are offered and burned in appreciation.

July

August

September

Oyama Festival

This festival honors the history of Kanazawa Castle, where stones were brought from Mt. Tomuro through the Ishibiki area.
The festival includes a mikoshi procession and a stone-hauling parade, recreating how stones were moved in ancient times.
It is also a time to give thanks for Kanazawa’s development and to pray for the prosperity of the Kodatsuno district.

Kenrokuen Neighborhood Prayer Festival (Eve of Autumn Grand Festival)

On the day before the Grand Festival, people from neighborhoods around Kenrokuen Garden gather to give thanks and pray for future prosperity.

Autumn Grand Festival (Shuki Reisai)

A major ritual to thank the enshrined deities of Kanazawa Shrine for their blessings.
Prayers are also offered for the peace of the Imperial Family, world peace, and the safety and happiness of all worshippers.

October

Dr.Yumoto Kyushin Memorial Ceremony

A memorial ceremony to honor Dr.Yumoto, a pioneer of integrating Eastern and Western medicine. It is held by researchers of traditional medicine and staff from the Traditional Japanese Medicine Department of Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

Itaya Shrine Autumn Festival

This festival honors Itaya Heishirō, who is worshipped as a deity of civil engineering and land development for his great work in building the Tatsumi Irrigation Canal.
The autumn ceremony is held by irrigation officials at the main shrine in Kamitatsumi Town.

Kuragatake Hakusan Shrine Autumn Festival

An autumn festival held at Kuragatake Hakusan Shrine, a related shrine in Kuragatake Town, Kanazawa.

Supporters’ Association Autumn Festival

An autumn festival held for the members of the Kanazawa Shrine Supporters’ Association.

November

December

Other festivals and so on

Monthly Festival of white snake

This monthly ritual honors Shirohebi Ryujin, the White Snake Dragon deity, who is worshipped for good fortune and protection from misfortune.
The deity is affectionately known as Mi-san.
During New Year (January 1–3), both male and female sacred statues are displayed.
At each monthly festival, only the male statue is displayed in front of the main hall.

Inari Monthly Festival

A monthly ritual for Inari, the deity of business success and prosperity.
The Inari deity at this shrine is called Hakuashi Inari Daimyōjin.

Monthly Festival of Tenjin

Held on the 25th of every month, honoring Tenjin-sama (Sugawara no Michizane), the deity of learning and scholarship.
The first Tenjin festival in January (Hatsu-Tenjin) is especially important, with blessings said to be as strong as New Year’s Day or the seasonal Grand Festivals.
The Kangaku Festival, held on the same day, is a prayer for students and learners to stay healthy and succeed in their studies.
On December 25, known as Shimai Tenjin (the final Tenjin day of the year), worshippers return their ema (wooden prayer plaques) to the shrine — this is called Ema Osame.

Free Admission to Kenrokuen Garden

Kenrokuen Garden is free to enter for local residents on:
・Sundays
・January 1st to 3rd (New Year holidays)

Ōharae ( Great Purification Ritual)

Even when we try to live honestly and kindly, we may unknowingly cause harm or become spiritually unclean.
Ōharae is a traditional Shinto ritual held to purify these invisible impurities, called kegare (spiritual dullness or tiredness).
By removing this kegare, we return to our pure and balanced state, as gifted by the gods.
The ritual helps individuals, families, communities, and the whole country become clean, bright, and peaceful.