The Toshogu Shrine Festival in Nikko is one of the most famous and anticipated events in the Tochigi area of Japan. The spring festival (Shunki Reitaisai) is held every year on May 17 and 18 to celebrate the life and achievements of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa dynasty who ruled Japan for over 250 years.
Toshogu Shrine is located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, about 150 km north of Tokyo. The shrine is famous for its elaborate architecture and decoration, as well as its historical significance. It is considered one of the most important shrines in Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
The festival begins on May 17 with a procession called “Yabusame shinji”, in which riders on horses gallop through the ceremonial route, shooting arrows at targets placed along the way.
The climax of the festival takes place on May 18 with the “Hyakumonozoroe Sennin Gyoretsu” ceremony, also known as the “Thousand Samurai Procession”. This procession, which replicates the funeral procession of Tokugawa Ieyasu, during which his tomb was transferred from Mount Kunousan in Shizuoka Prefecture to Nikko, involves the participation of one thousand costumed people, five hundred of whom wear samurai armor and five hundred of whom wear Buddhist monks’ robes. The warriors and sages march together through the streets of Nikko, recreating a historical scene from the time of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The procession, escorting three portable shrines where the spirits of the three Tokugawa shoguns reside, begins at Futarasan Shrine, a complex of Buddhist and Shinto temples located in Nikko. Participants prepare themselves in costume and makeup before beginning the two-kilometer walk to Toshogu Shrine. The procession is accompanied by drums, flutes and other traditional Japanese instruments, adding a festive and solemn atmosphere to the event. Toshogu Shrine is an important site for the Japanese, as it is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Visitors can also take the opportunity to explore other tourist attractions in the area, such as the Kegon Waterfalls and Lake Chuzenji.
https://www.visitnikko.jp/en/spots/nikko-toshogu-shrine-annual-grand-spring-festival/
