Hikawa Shrine (Kawagoe)

Hikawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In order to separate it from Hikawa Shrine in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, it is often called Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Highlights

Hikawa Shrine is known for its Reitaisai, or a festival considered the origin of Kawagoe festival, which was registered as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and listed as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

History

It is said that Hikawa Shrine was founded in the 6th century.

Since 1457, when Kawagoe Castle was built by Ota Doshin, Ota Dokan (father and son), the shrine had been worshipped by the successive lords of Kawagoe Domain as the genius of the castle town Kawagoe. The main building of the shrine has elaborate carvings, which was donated by Matsudaira Naritsune, the lord of Kawagoe Domain in 1849. It was designated as an important cultural asset of Saitama.

The torii gate measuring 15 meters high is one of the tallest wooden torii gates in Japan, and has a framed symbol with writings from Katsu Kaishu. The shrine enshrines the god of married couples, so it has been worshipped as the ‘God of Marriage’.

Shinto belief

This Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of 5 gods, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and his wife Kushinadahime, and Onamuchi no mikoto, who is considered the son of them, and Ashinaduchi no mikoto and Tenaduchi no mikoto who are the parents of Kushiinadahime no mikoto.

Since these gods are family, including two couples, Hikawa Shrine is worshipped as the ‘God of Happy Family’ and the ‘God of Marriage’.

Events

Pray for good match: held at 8:08 on the 8th and on the 4th Saturday of each month. (8 is considered a lucky number after its shape in Chinese character)

Reitaisai: held on October 14th, the biggest festival of the shrine. Float event held immediately after Reitaisai is the famous Kawagoe Festival, which is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and listed as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Kawagoe Festival: held on the 3rd weekend of October, in which elaborately decorated floats parade throughout the castle town Kawagoe.

Great Purification: held on July 31st and December 31st to purify ourselves of daily uncleanness.

Wind Chime Festival: held during the months of July, August and September, thousands of wind chimes with one’s wishes written on wooden plaques are displayed.