Each summer Shiki City have five traditional summer festivals collectively known as Shiki Summer Festivals, with a 100 plus year history. The last weekend of the festivals is the main celebration and attracts thousands of spectators each year.
Shiki Summer Festivals
Each of the below festivals, collectively known as Shiki Summer festivals, are on in July each year:
Day 1 of the Shiki Summer Festival 「宿組八坂神社 祭礼」
The first day of the festival is held at Tenjin (Ten) Shrine (view on Google Maps), but it is called the Shukugumi Yasaka Shrine Festival 「宿組八坂神社 祭礼」. It is held early in July each year. In 2023 it is on Sunday July 9th from 2.30 pm to 9 pm. The highlight is the mikoshi (portable shrine) parade, which is usually from around 7 pm. There is also a children’s mikoshi.
Day 2 of the Shiki Summer Festival 「下ノ宮八坂神社祭礼」
The second day of the festival is on in the vicinity of Shimono Hikawa Shrine (view on Google Maps). However, the festival is called Shimonomiya Yasaka Shrine Festival 「下ノ宮八坂神社祭礼」. This festival is held in mid July annually. In 2023, it is on Saturday July 15th from 2 pm to 8 pm. The highlight of day 2 is the portable shrine and the folk song performances. There is a children’s ‘mikoshi’ portable shrine at this festival too.
Day 3 「産財八坂神社夏祭り」
Day 3 of the festival is on Sunday July 16th. Like day 2, the Sanzai Yasaka Festival 「産財八坂神社夏祭り」 is also held around Shimono Hikawa Shrine. The festival starts in the afternoon around 3.30 pm. However, the main attractions are at night. Generally in and around Muneoka Elementary school from about 7 pm to 8.30 pm. The highlight here is also the festival shrine “mikoshi”. There is a children’s mikoshi too.
Day 4 and 5 「敷島神社祭典」
The final days (day 4 and 5) are the main weekend of the festival. In 2023, the dates are Saturday July 22nd and Sunday July 23rd. It is the festival of the formidable Shikishima Shrine (view on Google maps). On the grounds of Shikishima Shrine there is an impressive Fujizuka, aka a mini Mt Fuji with a shrine on top. Generally, the pedestrianize the main thoroughfare that leads to the shrine from Shiki Station for the event. Moreover, it is lined with festival stalls. The mikoshi is the highlight of the festival on both days.
Information
Event: Shiki Summer Festivals 志木夏祭り
Date: July 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd
Time: from early afternoon to night time ~
- Sunday July 9th 9th – 2.30 pm to 9 pm
- Saturday the 15th – 2 pm to 8 pm
- Sunday the 16th – 3.30 pm to 8 pm
- July 22nd and 23rd – noon to around 10 pm
Cost: no admission free
Venue: the main weekend the festival area stretches from Shiki Station to Shikishima Shrine. Festival area map from Shiki City.
Access
Each of the festivals are accessible from Shiki Station. The main weekend of the festivals is within walking distance of the station. If you are a good walker, most of the festivals are a manageable distance on foot. However, Shimono Hikawa Shrine (Day 2) is about a 40 minute walk from Shiki Station. The rest of the shrines are relatively near Shiki City hall, so you could also get a bus to city hall and walk the rest of the way. However, please note, that particularly on the main weekend, there will be disruptions to traffic and public transport.
Editor’s note: this event was cancelled between 2020 and 2022.