Sacred Places, Pilgrimage, and Tourism - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 141

Fig. 4.8 Number of tourists to Narita City by month, 2008 (The Narita City, Tourism Promotion
Section)
November at Naritasan Park. A tea ceremony happens along with erhu (two-
string instrument) , tsugaru shamisen (three-string instrument), and koto
(Japanese harp) performances. The Ajisai-matsuri is held on the grounds of
Sogoreido in June and July, along with a photo contest and tea ceremonies.
Some 7,000 ajisai (hydrangea) were planted at the Sogoreido by the tourist
association. In addition, a Peace Great Tower Festival is held by the Flower
Festival Dance Committee in May, and a Unagi-matsuri is held in July and
August by the special committee.
Though not hosted by the tourist association, the Gion Festival is very
important to Shinshoji and to the Monzenmachi. The Gion Festival is offi -
cially known as Gion-e , and is held July 7-9 every year, and was fi rst held
in 1721 (Kyoho 6). It was hosted by the Yudonosan Gongensha, and man-
aged by Shinshoji, and over time turned into a Dainichi Nyorai (principal
Buddha) festival for the innermost sanctuary of Shinshoji.
The Gion Festival is held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the begin-
ning of July, and youths from the nine towns around Shinshoji and Naritasan
(Honcho, Nakamachi, Kamicho, Hanasakicho, Saiwaicho, Tamachi,
Azumacho, Tsuchiya, and Igodai) carry a portable shrine representing
Shinshoji. Floats from Shinshoji, Honcho, Nakamachi, Hanasakicho,
Saiwaicho, Tamachi, Tsuchiya, and Igodai, and wagons from Kamicho and
Azumacho are pulled within the city. The grounds of Shinshoji and