Table of Contents
What is Agata Shrine?
Agata Shrine is dedicated to Kibana Kaiyahime no Mikoto, who has been worshipped as the landowning deity of Uji since the Kami period. It became the general shrine deity when Fujiwara no Yorimichi built Byodoin Temple in the Heian period (794-1185), and is still worshipped as the guardian of Byodoin Temple’s demon gate.
Basic Information
| Name | Agata Shrine |
| Purpose of visit | Benefits: marriage, safe delivery, childbirth, and childbirth |
| Hours of operation | All day |
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
| Location: 72 Renge, Uji, Uji City, Kyoto, 611-0021, Japan | 72 Renge, Uji, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0021 |
| TEL: 0774-21-3014 | 0774-21-3014 |
| Official website | http://www.agatajinjya.com/ |
Features and Highlights
- The god of marriage and childbirth is enshrined here, which is related to Japanese mythology.
- The “Agata Festival” held every June is the highlight of the festival.
- The “Bonten Wagyo” (Bonten Procession) held in the darkness is fantastic.
Priestess Kikanakaiyahime no Mikoto: Kikanakaiyahime no Mikoto, who appears in Japanese mythology, is the wife of Ninigi no Mikoto, the god of fire, and is known as the god of flowers and fruits. She is revered at the prefectural shrine as the god of marriage and safe childbirth.
Agata well : The Agata well, which remains on the shrine grounds, is a historic well mentioned in waka poems. An anecdote tells of a pear tree that bore fruit at the well after wetting its sleeve to obtain a seed as a gift from a city dweller.
Agata Festival: The Agata Festival, held on June 5, is the largest event of Agata Shrine. Young men carrying a portable shrine called Bonten parade through the shrine grounds in the darkness, offering a heroic “Bonten-togyo” (Bonten procession). The fantastic atmosphere created by the darkness is breathtaking and attracts many visitors every year.
Event Information
Agata Matsuri, a major event of Agata Shrine
The Agata Matsuri is a “strange festival of the dark night ” held from June 5 to the early morning of June 6. More than 700 stalls are set up along the triangular street connecting Agata Street, Honmachi Street, and Shinmachi Street, attracting more than 100,000 spectators. The climax of the festival is the shifting of the gods and the parade of the Bonten, which takes place in pitch darkness at the main shrine, and the festival ends around 1:00 a.m. when the shrine returns to the precincts of the shrine to complete the Kankosai.
| Events | Agata Matsuri (Agata Festival) |
| Place | Agata Shrine |
| Date and time | June 5 every year |
| Official site | Annual event of Agata Shrine |
How to access
- 9 minutes on foot from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line
- Keihan Railway: Approx. 10 minutes walk from Uji Station (Uji Line)
Summary
Agata Shrine is a perfect place to pray for marriage and safe delivery. The “Agata Festival” held every June is well worth a visit, and you can enjoy the traditional events that unfold in a fantastic atmosphere. It is definitely worth a visit when you visit Uji.
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