Matsue－ On 2nd February, the Kumano Taisha Shrine, located in the vicinity of Matsue City, held its annual Setsubun festival, drawing over 1,000 visitors.
The shrine, with a history dating back to at least the 8th century as documented in the Izumo Fudoki, is a revered Shinto site known for its grand rituals, including the nationally recognised Kamedayuu ritual. The time-honoured shrine is a grand-class Shinto shrine in the Izumo region, known for its dedication to food and provisions. It is famous locally, while at the national level, the name Kumano is known for the three shrines in Wakayama Prefecture, which are said to be related to this grand shrine.
According to the lunar calendar, Setsubun marks the day before the beginning of spring. During the festival, participants scatter parched soybeans called mamemaki while chanting, ‘Get out demons, come in good luck’ to ward off evil spirits and invite fortune. Tradition dictates eating the same number of beans as one’s age after the scattering.
The festival commenced at 11:00 AM with Shinto priests performing a ritual to invoke the shrine’s guardian deities through prayer, accompanied by the melodies of the bamboo flute and the taiko drum. The gospel was brought to the parishioners and precincts, and the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo, was also played to keep the nation peaceful and tranquil.
At 2:00 PM, the main event, mamemaki, began. During this event, the chief priest shot peach wood arrows into the sky and ground to mark the commencement of the festival. Local government leaders, shrine representatives, and the popular mascot character Shimanekko enthusiastically scattered beans. Attendees raised their hands high to catch the good-luck beans and called out to the throwers, asking them to toss the bags in their direction.
The Kumano Taisha Shrine is accessible from Tokyo via various modes of transportation. It takes approximately 2.5 hours by air from Haneda Airport, 8.5 hours using a combination of the Shinkansen and local railway, and 12.5 hours by the night sleeper train, Sun Rise Izumo. Travel time includes a 45-minute bus ride from Matsue Station to the shrine using the Ichibata Bus and a local community bus service.
| Transportation Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Air | Approximately 2.5 hours from Haneda Airport |
| Shinkansen & Local Railway | Approximately 8.5 hours |
| Night Sleeper Train (Sun Rise Izumo) | Approximately 12.5 hours |
| Bus Ride | 45-minute bus ride from Matsue Station using the Ichibata Bus and local community bus service |