[2024] What is the Ueno Tenjin Festival that colors autumn in IgaCity, Mie Prefecture? A thorough explanation of the festival's highlights, history, parade route, food stalls, and more!

Article production / Tourism Mie Editorial Department

Ueno Tenjin Festival 2024

▼Table of contents

• What is Ueno Tenjin Festival? History also explained
• Schedule for the 2024 Ueno Tenjin Festival
• Introducing the highlights of the Ueno Tenjin Festival
• ①Mikoshi procession
  
• ② Oni procession
• ③Danjiri procession
• About the cruise route
• About opening stalls etc.
• Access to Ueno Tenjin Festival
• Spots you should visit in conjunction with the Ueno Tenjin Festival

What is Ueno Tenjin Festival? History also explained

Ueno Tenjin Festival is an autumn festival held at Ueno Tenjin Shrine in IgaCity.

It is Iga's largest festival that colors the autumn of Iga Ueno, and has a tradition of over 400 years. The festival called ``Tenjin Festival'' was revived in 1660 in the early Edo period, but it is not certain what happened before then. Thereafter, there are records that the demon procession appeared in the 3rd year of Genroku (1690), and the primordial danjiri appeared in the 6th year of the Horeki era (1756).

The festival, which has been passed down from generation to generation, was designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on February 12, 2002 as the "Danjiri Event of the Ueno Tenjin Festival," and was further designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on December 1, 2016 ( (Japan time), it was registered as one of the 33 "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai Festivals" as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

By the way, in Mie Prefecture, in addition to the Ueno Tenjin Festival, there are also ``Toriide Shrine Whale Boat Event'' (YokkaichiCity) and ``Kuwana IshidoriFestival Festival Car Event'' (KuwanaCity), which are registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.・Included in "Hoko/Float Events".

The general flow of the Ueno Tenjin Festival is as follows. Detailed schedules and routes will be explained in detail later.

[Yoiyama] October 18th (Friday)
Three Danjiri floats have been dispatched from the Danjiri Kaikan, and the Danjiri floats are being prepared (assembled and decorated) in each town and displayed at the Danjiri Kuramae in each town.

From 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, the danjiri are decorated with lanterns and snow lanterns, and are lit by candles. In some towns, people even practice playing the festival music. The danjiri floating in the castle town at night is a fantastic sight.

[Ashi-Soro-no-Ri (Ceremony of the Foot-Setting Ceremony and Yoiyama)] Saturday, October 19th
The Oni procession starts with a ceremony to align the feet of the participants on Sannomachi-suji, the danjiri floats are pulled along Honmachi, Ninomachi-suji and Ginza-dori, and at night the danjiri floats with lit lanterns are pulled around Honmachi and Ninomachi. This day is packed with things to see from noon to night, including the Oni procession and the danjiri floats!

[Shinko Festival] October 20th (Sunday)
At the main festival, a mikoshi procession is at the head, followed by a procession of over 100 demons and nine gorgeous danjiri floats that parade through the castle town. The sight is as if you were looking at a picture scroll of a festival, and is a highlight of the Ueno Tenjin Festival.

As mentioned above, Ueno Tenjin Festival is the autumn festival of Ueno Tenjin Shrine. The main deity of Ueno Tenjingu Shrine is Michizane Sugawara, and the shrine is affectionately known by the locals as ``Tenjin-san.''

Starting from 2017, the dates for the Ueno Tenjin Festival will be the closest Sunday up to October 25th.

Schedule for the 2024 Ueno Tenjin Festival

October 18th (Friday) [Yoiyama]
10:30 Danjiri being pulled out in sequence
10:00 Festival preparations in Onimachi
Evening: Danjiri lanterns and paper lanterns lit up
21:00 Danjiri will be stored in the warehouses of each town.

October 19th (Saturday) [Ashi-Soro-no-Ri and Yoiyama]
10:00～ Danjiri Town Exhibition
13:00-16:00 Danjiri daytime cruise
13:00~ Demon procession parade
18:00-20:30 Yoiyama Lighting Exhibition and Parade
21:00 Danjiri will be stored in the warehouses of each town.

October 20th (Sunday) [Shinko Festival]
9:00 Departure from "Higashi Otabisho" (departs in the order of Mikoshi procession → Oni procession → Danjiri procession)
daytime cruise
17:30 Danjiri will be stored in the roguruma storehouses of each town.

Introducing the highlights of the Ueno Tenjin Festival

Highlights of Ueno Tenjin Festival

①Mikoshi procession
② Oni procession
③Danjiri procession
There are three main types.

From here, we will introduce each highlight in detail!

①Mikoshi procession

The mikoshi procession consists of two mikoshi, the Tenmangu mikoshi and the Kushagu mikoshi.

At the Shinko Festival on Sunday, these two mikoshi are at the head of the procession, followed by the Kanseikai (Youth Association) mikoshi, children's mikoshi, and goddess mikoshi, followed by the demon procession and danjiri procession.

② Oni procession

Oni procession is a performance that takes place from the towns along Sannomachi-suji (collectively known as Onimachi).

The ``En no Gyojaretsu'' starts from Miki-kai (Ueno aioicho, Ueno Konya-cho, Ueno Sannonishi-cho), and the ``Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo line'' continues. )” is produced from Ueno Tokui-cho.

The ``Engyoja line'' is a model of Engyoja's entry into Mt. Omine, with Ogohei at the head, followed by Akuma, Hatten, Shiten, Engyoja, Sentatsu, and Hyoro. Tsukioni and more will follow.

The ``Chinzei Hachiro Tame Tomo Retsu'' in Ueno Tokuicho is thought to have been established around 1798, about 100 years later than the Engyoja Retsu. This procession depicts Minamoto Tametomo's triumphant return after defeating demons.

③Danjiri procession

These are performances from nine towns (collectively known as ``Rouguruma-cho'') facing Honmachi-suji and Ninomachi-suji. Each town owns one, and they are pulled out in the order decided at the Kujitori Shiki held at Ueno Tenjingu Shrine on September 9th.

The lottery ceremony is also featured on the official Facebook page of the Ueno Tenjin Festival Preservation Society.

Let's get excited for the festival.

Each town's ``Danjiri'' is led by the ``Shirushi'' of each town.

The sign is like an altar that is filled with wishes for a safe procession of the festival. It is said that the name ``Danjiri'' was derived from the fact that a gorgeous rouguruma (travel) runs behind the altar.

The Ueno Tenjin Festival is characterized by the pairing of the ``in'' and the ``oni procession,'' and the ``in'' and the ``danjiri.''

About the cruise route

Here we will introduce the route of the [Pilgrimage Festival] held on the third day, the climax of the Ueno Tenjin Festival, on a map.

About opening stalls etc.

Food stalls are scheduled to be set up at the 2024 Ueno Tenjin Festival.

*Please dispose of your trash at the store where you bought it, or take it home with you. Please help keep Iga Ueno's streets clean.

Access to Ueno Tenjin Festival

We recommend arriving by train or direct bus to Iga Ueno, where the Ueno Tenjin Festival is held.

railway

The nearest station is Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Railway.

・Transfer to Iga Railway at JR Kansai Main Line "Iga-Ueno" Station and get off at Iga Railway "Ueno-shi" Station

・Transfer to Iga Railway at Kintetsu Osaka Line "Iga-kambe" station and get off at Iga Railway "Ueno-shi" station

Express bus

Please check each link for timetables, bus stops, etc.

[Nagoya] From Meitetsu Bus Center

private car

Approximately 10 minutes from Nakase IC or Ueno IC on the Meihan National Highway to the city center (festival area)

*Please be aware of traffic regulations during the festival.

*Parking is limited. Please come by public transportation if possible.

Information regarding traffic regulations for the 2024 Ueno Tenjin Festival is as follows:

Spots you should visit in conjunction with the Ueno Tenjin Festival

Since you've come all the way to the festival, why not enjoy the castle town of Iga City, IgaCity Prefecture? We will introduce you to spots where you can learn about and experience Iga ninja! !

NinjaMUSEUMofIgaryu

This is a former wealthy Iga mansion relocated to Ueno Park. The exterior looks like a normal thatched farmhouse, but there are defensive mechanisms throughout the mansion. Inside the mansion, a kunoichi (female ninja) will guide you around and explain to you things such as don-den-gaeshi, trick doors, hiding things, etc.


There is also a ``Ninjutsu Experience Plaza'' where you can experience shuriken throwing (for a fee) and Donggeshi, a ``Ninja Experience Hall/Ninja Tradition Hall'' where you can display real ninja tools and experience ninjutsu, and a shop selling original ninja goods.

Iga Ueno Castle

The castle was built by the ``master castle builder'' Todo TakatoraTodo, and today the inner moat, stone walls, and castle tower built in 1935 remain. Inside the three-story castle, there are weapons and armor, belongings of the Todo family, and 46 colored paper ceiling paintings by famous people, including Yokoyama Taikan. It is also called ``Hakuho Castle'' because of its beautiful three-story white exterior.

How was it

So far, we have introduced the highlights of the Ueno Tenjin Festival in Iga City, IgaCity, the procession route, and surrounding sightseeing spots.
Please prepare for the Ueno Tenjin Festival and make some wonderful memories!