The summer 'must do' list: see a mikoshi paraded

A mikoshi is a portable shrine. There are many different type of summer festivals in Japan. One of the most traditional elements of a summer festival is the carrying or parading of mikoshi through the town. But you can see mikoshi paraded at other times of the year too. In summer, 'Yasaka' and 'Gion' festivals tend to have a mikoshi. To that end, this year we went to both to get cross 'see a mikoshi paraded' off our summer list of things to do!

The photos in this post are from the Sakado Yasaka Summer Festival, which was on the Saturday and Sunday of the July long weekend this year (and every year). As you can see the mikoshi bearers wear blue happi jackets. The word for festival is written on the back of the happi. It takes at least 20 people to carry the mikoshi. They are heavier than they look. I had the very great pleasure to carry a mikoshi in a festival in Ibaraki many years ago. If you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend taking part in mikoshi bearing. It is an experience never to forget. But do expect sore shoulders for days after!

At this festival the bearers parade and shake the mikoshi through the streets. They intentionally don't go in a straight line, so as a spectator you have to be careful that you don't get in their way. Moreover, take due caution not to get a bang of the mikoshi as they shake it around! At this festival, the bearers are presented with sake after parading the mikoshi and then lifting it into the air. Lifting it into the air is far more difficult than it looks to the spectator. You can see them lifting it in the photo above.  

There is a great energy at these type of festivals and it infects the spectators too. It is probably one of the reasons that people love summer festivals so much as you get a buzz even just from spectating. Have you ever participated in mikoshi bearing in Japan? Would you like to?