Narita Gion Festival - Summer Grand Festival in Narita City, Chiba

The Narita Gion Festival is a summer grand festival held at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and the Omotesando approach area in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. With approximately 300 years of history, this festival is a traditional event that the townspeople have nurtured in conjunction with Naritasan's religious ceremony "Naritasan Gion-e." Taking place over three days in early July each year, it has become Narita's largest festival. The greatest attraction is the powerful spectacle of ten floats and portable shrines decorated with elaborate carvings and ornaments parading through the city in unison with Naritasan's mikoshi. The "So-odori" (grand dance) performed in front of the Main Hall on the opening and final days, where all floats gather to offer their performances, is absolutely magnificent. The climax is the "So-biki" (grand pull) at "Nakamachi Hill" on the Omotesando approach on the final day, where the floats and portable shrines race up the slope all at once. As evening falls, the floats and portable shrines are illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere. During the festival period, the Okunoin (inner sanctuary) is specially opened, offering a precious opportunity to worship the secret Buddhist statue of Dainichi Nyorai.