Hitakisai Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine

What Is the Hitakisai Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine?

The Hitakisai (火焚祭) is held every year on November 8 at Maruyama Inari Shrine (丸山稲荷社), a subsidiary shrine within the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (鶴岡八幡宮). November 8 has long been known as the day of the Fuigo Matsuri (鞴祭り), the bellows festival, and on this day a fire ceremony is also held at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) in Kyoto, the head shrine of all Inari shrines. At Maruyama Inari Shrine, people give thanks for a good harvest and pray for the good health of the local community.

Date and Time

In 2026 it is held on Sunday, November 8, from 2:00 p.m. It takes place on November 8 every year, whatever the day of the week.

Highlights: Kamakura Kagura, Dating Back to the Kamakura Period

After the ceremony, the priests perform kagura, sacred music and dance handed down by the shrine’s kagura performers. This kagura was already performed in the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and is commonly called Kamakura Kagura (鎌倉神楽). The simple sound of flutes and drums echoes through the grounds.

Despite the name, this is not a festival where a large fire is lit to burn old charms. The highlight is Yudate (湯立), the hot-water ritual of Kamakura Kagura. In front of the shrine building, a kagura space called the yama (山), decorated with colorful shide (紙垂) paper streamers, is set up, and a cauldron of water boils beside it. A priest stirs the hot water and sprinkles it toward the attendees with a bundle of bamboo leaves. Being touched by this water is said to bring good health. Next, a priest shoots arrows in the four directions, and finally a tengu (天狗), a long-nosed mountain spirit, and a comic character called modoki (もどき) appear. The modoki’s funny movements make the attendees laugh, and he throws tangerines and candy to the attendees.

The kagura is performed by the Kamakura Kagura Preservation Society (鎌倉神楽保存会), made up of Shinto priests from the Shonan (湘南) area.

About Maruyama Inari Shrine

Maruyama Inari Shrine is a red shrine on a small hill west of the corridor of the Main Shrine (本宮), also called the Upper Shrine (上宮). It is said to have stood here before Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was built. The present building dates from the Muromachi period (1336–1573) and is the oldest building at the shrine; its main hall is an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The shrine is surrounded by red banners offered by worshippers.

Watching the Festival and Things to Know

Seats for the ceremony are reserved for people invited by the shrine, but general visitors can watch standing around the shrine. The ceremony and kagura together take about an hour and a half. Hot water splashes during Yudate, so cameras and clothes may get wet. Pets are not allowed in the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

Access: Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is about a 10-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅) or from Enoden (江ノ電) Kamakura Station. Climb the stone steps on the west side that lead up to the Main Shrine, turn toward the Main Shrine, and you will find the entrance to Maruyama Inari Shrine; walk through the path lined with torii gates to reach the shrine.

If you stay in Kamakura, you can take your time exploring Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and the surrounding area, even on festival day. At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with full kitchens and no meals provided, you can enjoy Kamakura at your own pace.

Summary

The Hitakisai is an autumn festival held at the oldest shrine building of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Amid the steaming cauldron and the sound of flutes and drums, Kamakura Kagura, which has continued since the Kamakura period, is performed. For the shrine’s usual highlights, see Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

Basic Information

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