Location:
Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival or Haru no Taisai is a regular annual festival of Meiji Shrine(Meiji Jingu). The shrine hosts a week-long festival from late April until May 3 every year.
Meiji Shrine is the largest Shinto shrine in Tokyo, located in Shibuya. The location of the shrine is between Takeshita Street and Yoyogi Park.
The shrine’s first Torii Gate is only 2 minutes walk from Harajuku Station and Just 1 minute walk from Jingumae Station.
However, it takes about 5 minutes to arrive at the main hall from the first Torii Gate.
Purpose:
Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirit of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. During the spring grand festival, from late April to May 3, various traditional performances and dramas take place in their honor.
Schedule:
The festival starts in late April and finishes on May 3 every year. The Shinto priests perform the rituals at 10:00 and 14:00 on May 2 and 10:00 on May 3.
These rituals are very sacred. The priests perform these rituals inside the shrine.
The Spring Grand Festival features numerous traditional performances. The masters lead most of the performances.
In addition, the main ceremony includes several types of performances. Among these performances, Bugaku and Satsuma Biwa are ancient types.
Bugaku is a kind of ancient imperial court music performed with dance.
Satsuma Biwa is a Japanese musical instrument executed with poems or songs.
However, Japanese people started using it in 8 the century. But its origin country is Persia.
Other major attractions of the Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival are Budo(martial arts demonstrations), Kyudo(Japanese archery), Hogaku and Hobu(classical Japanese dance), Yabusame( horseback archery), and Sankyoku(traditional Japanese music).
2022 Grand Festival:
In 2022, the Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival differed from other years. The ritual was performed without attendees.
The shrine did not set up any special stage for the festival. However, the Kagura ‘Urayasu no Mai’ was performed.
After Kagura, the priests prayed for world peace and for calming infectious diseases.
The shrine made it a quiet dedication event to avoid unexpected infection. However, many devotees prayed from outside during the ritual performances.
Serenity:
The serenity of the Meiji Shrine is very high. Besides, the performances of the team of priests astonished the devotees.
The team arrives at just 10:00 at the gate in a very polite manner. However, the members of the priests look like a team of well-trained royal soldiers.
They wear Shinto ceremonial dresses(Joe). During the Heian period, nobles used to wear a traditional hunting robe like joe.
They walk in a disciplined line. For example, all members move the same leg together at the same time.
It is essential to mention that the priest team comes and goes during the Empress Shoken Memorial Ceremony in the same way.
It took almost one hour to finish the ceremony. Then, they came out together in a line from the ceremonial hall and went out from the shrine premises in the same disciplined manner as they entered.
At that time, visitors can take pictures. So, most visitors take photos this time.
However, some visitors keep their heads down to respect the priests. The crowd follows the priest team until the end of the shrine’s premises most of the time.
It is one of the best opportunities to see the serene march of Shinto priests during the Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival.
In addition, people hope to see the full scale of the Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival in 2023.
Access:
Jingu Mae Station
1 minute walk
Harajuku Station
(JR Yamanote Line)
3 minutes walk
Address:
Meiji Shrine
1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557
Official website: Meiji Shrine
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