Esashi: Ubagami Daijingu Togyosai

Esashi: Ubagami Daijingu Togyosai

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Ubagami Daijingu is the oldest shrine in Hokkaido, established in 1447. It is said to have been established as a place for herring-fishers to worship the image of the god they believed in. Once a year, the people of Esashi carry out the Togyosai, in which they offer their thanks for a bountiful catch of fish. Thirteen richly decorated floats (called “yama” in Esashi) are paraded downtown and uptown in a dignified procession. This festival is clearly dear to the hearts of everyone in Esashi—during the Togyosai, the population of the town swells to five times its normal size because of the many people returning home. The Togyosai is truly a festival fit to represent Hokkaido.

– Reception period: August 1-7, 2017. The festival itself takes place from August 9-11.
– One way to get there and back: Toya/Noboribetsu (Overnight stay) → Kuromatsunai → Kumaishi (Overnight stay) → Esashi (Overnight stay) → Hakodate

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