Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Otsu 大津市 > Takebe Taisha Senko-sai 建部大社船幸祭

sk200-20100817_9129.jpg
One of Otsu's Big Three Festivals, the Senko-sai is a portable shrine procession on boats going down Seta River from Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge to Nango sluice and back. Held annually on Aug. 17 by Takebe Taisha Shrine. The festival starts at 5 pm.
sk201-20100817_9141.jpg
Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge had four bamboo poles indicating where the mikoshi (portable shrine) boats will pass under. These photos were taken on Aug. 17, 2010, a very hot day. MAP
sk202-20100817_9148.jpg
Sign says that people cannot enter the middle section of the bridge under which the mikoshi will pass.
sk203-20100817_9138.jpg
The Senko-sai festival personifies the marine journey of legendary prince and warrior Yamato Takeru. It also prays for water safety. Yamato Takeru is one god Takebe Taisha Shrine worships.
sk204-20100817_9132.jpg
The east bank of Seta River near Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk205-20100817_9144.jpg
The two mikoshi boats have dragon heads.
sk206-20100817_9145.jpg
More boats to be in the procession.
sk207-20100817_9136.jpg
sk208-20100817_9152.jpg
Pier scene near Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk209-20100817_9156.jpg
Mikoshi boats await the mikoshi.
sk210-20100817_9158.jpg
These two cruise boats (Lansing and Interlaken) were chartered for the festival.
sk211-20100817_9157.jpg
Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk212-20100817_9166.jpg
The festival started at 5 pm when the mikoshi (portable shrine) procession departed Takebe Taisha Shrine about 500 meters from the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk213-20100817_9174.jpg
The procession arrived at the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge at about 5:15 pm.
sk214-20100817_9176.jpg
Even though this is one of Otsu's Big Three Festivals (others are Sanno-sai and Otsu Matsuri), the crowd watching was surprisingly sparse.
sk215-20100817_9177.jpg
Shrine maidens
sk216-20100817_9181.jpg
Archer
sk217-20100817_9187.jpg
First was a children's mikoshi (portable shrine).
sk218-20100817_9189.jpg
Followed by another children's mikoshi.
sk219-20100817_9197.jpg
sk220-20100817_9212.jpg
The third mikoshi was carried by women.
sk221-20100817_9224.jpg
sk222-20100817_9232.jpg
sk223-20100817_9235.jpg
Nagata Megumi, Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassador for 2010, was also in the procession. 永田めぐみ
sk224-20100817_9239.jpg
The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010. びわ湖大津観光大使:井上まどか、永田めぐみ
sk225-20100817_9241.jpg
Escorted by taiko drummers, the main mikoshi arrives at the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk226-20100817_9245.jpg
sk227-20100817_9272.jpg
They do a few maneuvers with the main mikoshi.
sk228-20100817_9274.jpg
sk229-20100817_9281.jpg
sk230-20100817_9287.jpg
sk231-20100817_9293.jpg
sk232-20100817_9303.jpg
The mikoshi carried by the ladies is loaded onto the boat.
sk233-20100817_9318.jpg
The main mikoshi arrives at the boat pier.
sk234-20100817_9327.jpg
Heading for the boat.
sk235-20100817_9336.jpg
Carrying the main mikoshi to the boat.
sk236-20100817_9345.jpg
Hauling the main mikoshi onto the boat.
sk237-20100817_9347.jpg
sk238-20100817_9358.jpg
sk239-20100817_9364.jpg
The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010, Inoue Madoka and Nagata Megumi. Selected from among 21 applicants in April 2010. For one year, their job is to promote tourism in Otsu. びわ湖大津観光大使:井上まどか、永田めぐみ
sk240-20100817_9367.jpg
sk241-20100817_9379.jpg
All the mikoshi are loaded up on the boats and ready to go.
sk242-20100817_9381.jpg
sk243-20100817_9390.jpg
Boat pier north of the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge. This is where the crowd was concentrated. People gave a few speeches before the boats left.
sk244-20100817_9389.jpg
sk245-20100817_9395.jpg
The main mikoshi all set on the boat.
sk246-20100817_9398.jpg
The boat with the three mikoshi aboard is pulled away by tugboat.
sk247-20100817_9401.jpg
sk248-20100817_9402.jpg
Next, the boat carrying the main mikoshi is taken upstream.
sk249-20100817_9410.jpg
The main mikoshi on the boat during the Senko-sai festival on Setagawa River in Otsu.
sk250-20100817_9413.jpg
The three mikoshi head upstream.
sk251-20100817_9414.jpg
All the boats first head upstream toward Lake Biwa, then they make a U-turn and sail downstream down Seta River.
sk252-20100817_9415.jpg
sk253-20100817_9419.jpg
The fireworks barge can be seen on the distance.
sk254-20100817_9422.jpg
Lansing going to rendezvous with the other boats. Most of Lake Biwa's cruise boats are named after Shiga's sister states (like Michigan) or cities. Lansing is in Michigan.
sk255-20100817_9425.jpg
After making a U-turn, the boats head downstream toward Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk256-20100817_9429.jpg
The crowd watching the boat procession was sparse. It seems most people were waiting for the fireworks instead. It was a hot day too.
sk257-20100817_9435.jpg
Heading the boat procession is the main mikoshi now passing under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk258-20100817_9438.jpg
Boat with the main portable shrine pass under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk259-20100817_9440.jpg
sk260-20100817_9450.jpg
Boat with the main portable shrine pass under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk261-20100817_9465.jpg
sk262-20100817_9467.jpg
Boat with the three portable shrines pass under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk263-20100817_9471.jpg
Boat with the three portable shrines pass under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk264-20100817_9474.jpg
Other boats follow. They all proceeded to the shrine's Otabisho near the Nango sluice on Seta River. A Shinto ceremony would be performed there before they returned back to Seta Karahashi Bridge at 8 pm.
sk265-20100817_9477.jpg
A yakata-bune shrine boat passes under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge. This festival reminded me of the Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka, but on a smaller scale.
sk266-20100817_9478.jpg
Interlaken passing under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk267-20100817_9481.jpg
Lansing passing under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.
sk268-20100817_9482.jpg
By 6 pm, all the boats left and we would have to wait 2 hours to see the fireworks when they returned. Unfortunately, I couldn't stand the heat and left. Perhaps I'll see the fireworks someday.
sk269-senkosai.youtube
Senko-sai video (embedded).
   
70 files on 1 page(s)