The Konno Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival, which is held to pray for bountiful harvests and good health, will be held at Konno Hachiman Shrine (Shibuya 3) from Thursday, September 12th to Sunday, September 15th, 2024.

Konno Hachimangu Shrine, which has been in existence since 1092 and is celebrating its 932nd anniversary this year, is loved by locals as the "guardian deity of Shibuya." During the annual festival, the grounds are divided into four areas: "Special Festival Prayer" (main shrine), "Kagura Stage" (Kagura Hall), "Children's Festival" (park space), and "Future Festival" (food court, parking space), and various lively events such as live music, events, and food stalls are held.

BEGIN dedication live performance (photographed in September 2023)

On the 12th, the Kagura stage will feature a dedication live performance by the Ishigakijima-born three-piece band BEGIN. BEGIN, who declare that "Shibuya is their second home," has made it a tradition to hold a free live performance at the festival every year. In addition, at this year's Shibuya Station Bon Odori Festival, they performed their new song "Shibuya Hyakunen Soudori" to accompany the Bon Odori, and are becoming established as an artist loved by the people of Shibuya. They will likely perform "Shibuya Hyakunen Soudori" at this dedication live performance.

Many food stalls are set up within the grounds

On the 14th, the Kagura Stage will feature live performances and shows such as the East Indian classical dance Odissi (from 12pm), Shibuya Folktales (from 4pm), Kagoshima Oharabushi (from 5pm), and pantomime (from 8pm). At the Children's Festival on the 14th and 15th, there will be stalls and events for children, such as goldfish scooping, yo-yo fishing, cotton candy, shooting gallery, portraits, and playing with local characters.

A scene from the "Children's Festival." Local mascots also come to play.

This year, the Mirai Ennichi (Food Court), which had been suspended since 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19, will be back for the first time in five years. Eleven food trucks will be set up in the parking lot near the entrance to Konno Hachimangu Shrine, selling kebabs, steaks, fried takoyaki, beer, fruit squash, and more. The event will be open from 11:00 on the 14th and 15th to the 21st.

On the final day, the 15th, the Go-Houren (a portable shrine) procession takes place every three years, and 14 town mikoshi (portable shrines) from each neighborhood in Shibuya gather in front of SHIBUYA109 for the Dogenzaka Mikoshi Joint Procession. The joint procession, with the shouts of "Wasshoi!" echoing in front of Shibuya Station, is a spectacular sight and the most exciting part of the festival. At the Kagura Hall, Sato Kagura is dedicated throughout the day (Sagami-ryu Sato Kagura Hagiwara-shachu), and at around 7pm, a Fukutoku dance is performed in the precincts and sweets are scattered.

Why not head to a festival in Shibuya and get into the festival spirit?

If you show the "exchange ticket" displayed on the official website below at a children's fair, you will receive a free bottle of juice (limited to 200 bottles per day) →Official website

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