🏮 Saito Sai

祭頭祭

Kashima, Ibaraki (Kashima Jingu Shrine) · Every year on 9 March

Traditional performing arts

176 days to go
Rooms around Kashima, Ibaraki fill up while the festival is on.

The Saitosai is the largest and most spirited of the events held at Kashima Shrine, and takes place every year in March in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is characterized by musicians in brightly colored costumes who form and break apart interlaced oak staves as they parade along the shrine approach while playing festival music. It is held mainly on March 9 each year; if that day falls on a weekday, it is postponed to the following Saturday. From 10:00 a.m., the Saitosai (festival rite) is performed within the shrine grounds, and from 12:30 p.m. the musicians of the Saitohayashi Shinji and Spring Festival set out. After touring the areas around Omachi-dori and Nakamachi-dori, a simultaneous performance of the music is held in the grounds of Kashima Shrine at around 4:30 p.m. On the day the Saitohayashi is performed, traffic restrictions are in place on Omachi-dori and other surrounding roads, so access by car requires checking in advance.

Getting there

About 10 minutes on foot from Kashima-Jingu Station on the JR Kashima Line. Alternatively, take the Kashima City Community Bus (Jingu route) and get off at the Kashima Jingu bus stop. On the day of the event, traffic restrictions are in place on surrounding roads.