What are the opening hours of Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)?

14:00– Check the official page for closed days and last admission.

Where is Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu) and what is the nearest station?

It is held at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds). The nearest station is Kamakura Sta..

Festivals & local events

Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)

Japanese title: 丸山稲荷社火焚祭（鶴岡八幡宮）

Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds) (Kamakura Sta.)

A fire-kindling rite at the Maruyama Inari Shrine in the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds, giving thanks for the autumn harvest, followed by Kamakura Kagura performed with flute and drums. Starts 14:00.

Date: Nov 8 (Sun)
Time: 14:00–
Price: See the official page for prices
Venue: Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds)
Nearest station: Kamakura Sta.

Check closed days and last admission on the official page before you go.

Check the official page (Japanese)Open in Google Maps

About this event

Kamakura Kagura, a ritual performing tradition dating back to the Kamakura period, is offered at Maruyama Inari Shrine during its annual Hitakisai fire ceremony. The small shrine stands on a hill within the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and is believed to predate the construction of the shrine's main sanctuary. The ceremony expresses gratitude for the harvest and prayers for protection from illness. Following the religious rites, shrine priests perform traditional kagura accompanied by flute and drum music. Maruyama Inari's kagura has been preserved locally and is recognized as an intangible cultural property of Kamakura City. One distinctive element involves a hot-water purification ritual, traditionally associated with divination and spiritual cleansing. The setting adds another layer of history: the shrine's surviving building reflects medieval architectural traditions and is considered the oldest structure within Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Visitors can observe a continuing religious practice rather than a staged historical reenactment.

Highlights

Witness a traditional Hitakisai ceremony expressing gratitude for the harvest.
Watch Kamakura Kagura performed by shrine priests.
Hear ceremonial flute and drum music.
Discover the shrine's medieval architecture and surrounding red prayer flags.
Observe a religious tradition preserved since the Kamakura period.

Good for: Visitors interested in Shinto rituals, traditional Japanese music, medieval history and Kamakura's living cultural heritage.

Summarized from the official page and press materials.

Why is this small hillside shrine older than Tsurugaoka Hachimangu's main sanctuary?

Maruyama Inari Shrine occupies a small hill west of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu's main sanctuary. Historical accounts describe an Inari shrine on the original site before Minamoto no Yoritomo established the main sanctuary, with the earlier shrine subsequently relocated to the hill. Its surviving building shows architectural features associated with the middle Muromachi period and is considered the oldest structure within Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Although modest in scale, it preserves an important connection to the religious landscape that existed before the shrine complex took its present form.

The annual Hitakisai is connected with gratitude for the grain harvest and prayers for the health of the local community. November 8 has long been associated with fire-related observances, including ceremonies at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. At Maruyama Inari, the rites are followed by Kamakura Kagura, a tradition performed by priests and associated with the Kamakura period. The kagura includes hot-water ritual elements linked to divination and purification, accompanied by traditional flute and drum music. So approach the gathering as an active religious observance, not simply a performance for tourists.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — Annual Festivals (Japanese) · Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — Shrine Treasures and Maruyama Inari (Japanese) · Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — Grounds Guide (Japanese) · Kamakura City Tourism Association — Event Listing (Japanese)

Distance from major stations

From Kamakura: 1.0 km, about 16 min on foot
From Kita-Kamakura: 1.5 km, about 24 min on foot
From Yuigahama: 2.0 km, about 15 min by train
From Hase: 2.4 km, about 15 min by train

Distances are straight-line; times are rough estimates.

Other events nearby

Kamakura Museum of National Treasures: Zuisenji 700 YearsKamakura Museum of National Treasures (Kamakura Sta.) · 0.1 km, about 2 min on foot from here · Oct 24 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun)
LIVING IN CINEMA: Actor Koji Yakusho (Kamakura Kawakita Film Museum)Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum (Kamakura Sta.) · 0.5 km, about 7 min on foot from here · Sep 5 (Sat) – Dec 13 (Sun)
Chojuji Temple Autumn Special Opening (Kamakura)Chojuji Temple (Kita-Kamakura) (Kita-Kamakura Sta.) · 0.9 km, about 14 min on foot from here · Oct 2 (Fri) – Dec 7 (Mon)
Kamakura's Nunneries: A History of Prayer Woven by Nuns (Kamakura Museum of History and Culture)Kamakura Museum of History and Culture, Annex Archaeology Gallery (Kamakura Sta.) · 1.0 km, about 16 min on foot from here · Sep 19 (Sat) – Nov 28 (Sat)
VIE presents ZEN NIGHT Kamakura (Night Viewing at Kenchoji in Autumn Colors)Kenchoji Temple (Kamakura) (Kita-Kamakura Sta.) · 1.2 km, about 19 min on foot from here · Oct 29 (Thu) – Dec 6 (Sun)
Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Hall Autumn Public Opening (Hase, Kamakura)Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Hall (Yuigahama Sta.) · 2.2 km, about 15 min by train from here · Oct 31 (Sat) – Nov 29 (Sun)

Food and cafes nearby

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Tours and tickets nearby

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FAQ

What is Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)?: Kamakura Kagura, a ritual performing tradition dating back to the Kamakura period, is offered at Maruyama Inari Shrine during its annual Hitakisai fire ceremony. The small shrine stands on a hill within the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and is believed to predate the construction of the shrine's main sanctuary. The ceremony expresses gratitude for the harvest and prayers for protection from illness. Following the religious rites, shrine priests perform traditional kagura accompanied by flute and drum music. Maruyama Inari's kagura has been preserved locally and is recognized as an intangible cultural property of Kamakura City. One distinctive element involves a hot-water purification ritual, traditionally associated with divination and spiritual cleansing. The setting adds another layer of history: the shrine's surviving building reflects medieval architectural traditions and is considered the oldest structure within Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Visitors can observe a continuing religious practice rather than a staged historical reenactment.
When is Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)?: Nov 8 (Sun)
What are the opening hours of Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)?: 14:00– Check the official page for closed days and last admission.
How much does Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu) cost?: See the official page for prices
Where is Hitaki Festival at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu) and what is the nearest station?: It is held at Maruyama Inari Shrine (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds). The nearest station is Kamakura Sta..

Checked against the official page on October 28, 2026. Titles and descriptions are our own translations.

We list events we could confirm on the official page or official Instagram of the venue or organiser. Details can change, tickets sell out and venues close, so check the official page before you go. Distances are straight-line and travel times are rough estimates. Photos show the venue or its surroundings, not the event itself. Titles and descriptions are our own translations from Japanese. This site contains affiliate links (ads).