Sumiyoshi-san Summer Festival

Sumiyoshi-san, along with the Tokasan and Ebessan festivals, is one of Hiroshima city’s big three annual shrine festivals that have long histories.

Sumiyoshi Shrines are dedicated to water gods, and Sumiyoshi Shrine is located right next to the river in Sumiyoshi-cho on Route 2. It’s a real local festival, and the neighborhood streets are lined with the usual festival food and game stalls. Many people visit the shrine over the course of two days to pray for good health and fortune. There are several nautical rituals involving traditional, oar-powered boats that make the journey all the way to the A-bomb Dome and back, and the floating of small boats on the river. As well as kids’ kagura shows, each night finishes with a short fireworks display.

At the heart of the festival is the Nagoshi no Ōharae, an ancient purification ritual in which visitors pass through a giant ring woven from chigaya grass (roughly 3 metres in diameter), circling left, right, and left three times to cleanse body and spirit. Paper effigies (hitogata) are also set adrift on the Honkawa River, carrying away sins and impurities in keeping with centuries-old tradition.

Look out for special two-day-only goshuincho (festival stamp seals) and the shrine’s popular summer treat, Hiyashi Ame — a refreshing chilled syrup drink sold as a “drinkable good-luck charm.” Donations to support the festival are welcome from ¥1,000.

Timetable
Festival start 18:00
Fireworks start 20:00