Written by Aarohi Narain
The Hassaku Sumo Festival takes place across the country. Unfolding at the grand Ōkunitama Shrine, this local rendition is easily accessible from central Tokyo.
What happens?
The Hassaku Sumo Festival is a community celebration where children take centre stage in friendly sumo bouts. This is observed as a ritual offering for bountiful crops and protection from typhoons.
The festival ties into ancient agricultural customs. Hassaku refers to the first day of the eighth lunar month, which is when the first rice is offered to the gods and farmers take a rare break after the summer season’s hard work.
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The date also marks the day Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, marched into Edo Castle (present-day Tokyo) back in 1590.
Early
Aug
八朔相撲祭
Free
Official site
⚠️ Link in Japanese
- 278 m from Fuchū-Hommachi Station JR Nambu Line (JN20)Musashino Line (JM35)
- 455 m from Fuchū Station Keiō Line (KO24)
- 0.6 km from Fuchūkeiba-seimommae Station Keiō Keibajō Line (KO46)
