[Ise City, Mie Prefecture] The Reiwa era's 'Okihiki' - The 1st Okihiki Event begins at last

The 'Okihiki' event is a folk event in Ise with a tradition of over 550 years, where citizens of Ise, who are considered people of the divine territory, pull the Japanese cypress timber to be used for rebuilding the shrines of Ise Jingu into the shrine precincts. It is designated as a cultural property by the city and the national government, and is said to be the most vibrant event among the festivals and ceremonies of the Sengu (shrine relocation).

Geku Okihiki (Rikubiki - Land Pulling) / Naiku Okihiki (Kawabiki - River Pulling)

〇 Schedule

(1) Geku Rikubiki (Land Pulling) Dedication (15 days in total), Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 9 to June 13

City Dedication Groups: Weekends from May 9 to June 13 (11 days in total)
Departure from Nakajima-cho to Geku Kitamikado: 6:30 - 17:00
Each day, 4 to 5 dedication groups will pull in sequence from Nakajima-cho to Geku Kitamikado.
Departure times (approximate): 1st cart 9:30, 2nd cart 10:10, 3rd cart 11:50, 4th cart 12:30, 5th cart 13:10
Arrival at Kitamikado (approximate): 1st cart 12:30, 2nd cart 13:10, 3rd cart 14:50, 4th cart 15:30, 5th cart 16:10

Special Divine Territory People Dedication: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 10 to June 13 (14 days in total, excluding June 12)
Departure from Miya-machi to Geku Kitamikado: 7:00 - 12:00
2 carts for Special Divine Territory People Dedication

Special Dedication: Sunday, May 31
Iso-cho Keikoin Pulling: Departure from Nakajima-cho to Naiku 6:00 - 19:00
*Arrival times are subject to change.

(2) Naiku Kawabiki (River Pulling) Dedication (4 days in total), Weekends from July 25 to August 2

Near Urata Bridge on the Isuzu River to Naiku Shinen: 8:00 - 15:40
Isuzu River Departure times (approximate): 1st 10:00, 2nd 10:20, 3rd 10:40, 4th 11:00, 5th 11:20, 6th 11:40
Uji Bridge Arrival times (approximate): 1st 13:40, 2nd 14:00, 3rd 14:20, 4th 14:40, 5th 15:00, 6th 15:20

*Traffic regulations will be in place, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation. Also, parking is prohibited on the dedication routes. Please cooperate in eliminating illegal and nuisance parking.

〇 What is the Okihiki Event?

In preparation for the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu in Reiwa 15 (2033), the folk event 'Okihiki' will be held over two years, in Reiwa 8 (2026) and Reiwa 9 (2027). The Geku 'Rikubiki' (Land Pulling) will take place from May to June, and the Naiku 'Kawabiki' (River Pulling) from July to August. For the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu Okihiki, 72 dedication groups within Ise City are scheduled to pull, and each group is making repeated preparations for the actual event.

'Okihiki' is an event to dedicate the timber for the shrine buildings. It is one of the few opportunities for citizens to participate among the Sengu events, and as a folk event, unique traditions are inherited, making it the event where the town of Ise reaches its peak excitement.

Before the event begins, each dedication group visits Futami Okitama Shrine and other places as 'Hama Sangyu'. This has the meaning of 'Misogi' (purification) to cleanse oneself before dedicating the timber to the deity, and to pray for the safety of the pulling event. March and April, leading up to the main pulling, is the peak season for 'Hama Sangyu', and the town of Futami bustles with dedication groups wearing various happi coats.

Furthermore, since the 60th Jingu Shikinen Sengu, Jingu worshippers from all over the country have been welcomed as 'Special Divine Territory People', and a special pulling using Jingu's dedication carts is also conducted in parallel with the pulling of each group.

*For this 1st Okihiki event, there will be no general recruitment for Special Divine Territory People.

〇 Official Website

For detailed schedules and information on traffic regulations, please check the Ise Gosengu Committee website.
https://isesengu.jp

[Press Contact for this Release]
Ise City, Industry & Tourism Department, Tourism Attraction Division, Okuno/Sumi
TEL: 0596-21-5565
e-mail: kanko@city.ise.mie.jp

Ise Gosengu Committee Secretariat, Ueshima/Morimoto
TEL: 0596-25-5215
e-mail: jimukyoku@ise-gosengu.com