Overview

Hōjōya is a festival held annually in September at Hakozaki-gū Shrine in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and it is counted as one of the "Three Great Festivals of Hakata," alongside the Hakata Gion Yamakasa and the Hakata Dontaku. Although it can also be read "Hōjōe," in the local Hakata area it is affectionately called "Hōjōya." Held over seven days from around September 12 to 18 each year, it lines the approach to the shrine with what are said to be several hundred food stalls, and during the period it bustles with great crowds of worshippers and visitors, making it a representative seasonal tradition of Fukuoka's autumn.

It is a rite derived from the Buddhist idea of "hōjō"—cherishing the life of all living things and refraining from killing—while at the same time it carries the meaning of giving thanks for the autumn harvest, and it has long been cherished as a festival in which faith and festivity are united.

History and Origins

Hōjōya is an observance based on the idea of "hōjō," the releasing of captured creatures such as fish and birds back into the fields and waters, cherishing life. Its origins are ancient, and it is said that hōjō rites had been conducted at temples and shrines throughout Japan since before the Heian period. The Hōjōya of Hakozaki-gū also has a long history and is regarded as a venerable rite that has been handed down for more than a thousand years.

Hakozaki-gū is an old shrine counted, alongside Usa and Iwashimizu, as one of the Three Great Hachiman Shrines of Japan, and it has long drawn wide faith as a deity of warding off misfortune and of victory. The Hōjōya observed as its grand festival is a rite that offers compassion to living creatures and thanks for the rich autumn harvest, and at the same time it is, for local people, a great occasion of enjoyment that heralds the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Also called the "autumn festival" or "Hōjō night," it has taken deep root in the lives of the people of Fukuoka. Note that the dating of its origins and the histories of individual rites partly rely on tradition, and this account provides an overview based on the principal traditions and state of research.

Highlights

Several Hundred Food Stalls and the Bustle of the Approach

One of the greatest attractions of Hōjōya is the enormous number of food stalls that fill the shrine's approach. In addition to standard food and game stalls, one can also find stalls unique to Hōjōya, such as a plant and seedling market, and throughout the seven days it bustles with many people day and night. The energy of the stalls, said to be among the largest in scale in Fukuoka, is a major highlight of the festival.

The Famous "Ohajiki" and "New Ginger"

Hōjōya has its own distinctive specialties. The handmade "ohajiki" (flat glass-like tokens), known as good-luck items of Hakozaki-gū, are popular offerings given out with a different design each year, and lines may form over obtaining them. Many worshippers also seek the "new ginger" that appears at this time of year, making it a sight unique to Hōjōya.

Solemn Rites

Amid the festivity, Hōjōya is, in its essence, a rite that cherishes the life of living creatures. In some years, traditional rites such as the sacred procession (omiyuki) are conducted during the period, allowing visitors to sense both the lively bustle of the gorgeous stalls and the solemnity of faith handed down from ancient times.

Event Information and Access

The Hōjōya of Hakozaki-gū is held over seven days from around September 12 to 18 each year. The venue is the precincts of Hakozaki-gū and the area of its approach, where many food stalls line up during the period. Because the schedule and content of the rites, as well as the operating hours of the stalls, may vary from year to year, it is advisable to check official information in advance when planning a visit.

For access, the nearest stations are "Hakozakimiyamae" on the Fukuoka City Subway Hakozaki Line and "Hakozaki" on the JR Kagoshima Main Line, both within walking distance of Hakozaki-gū. It is also close to the center of Fukuoka City (Hakata and Tenjin) and easily accessible by public transportation. Because the surrounding area becomes extremely crowded during the period, using public transportation is recommended. Please confirm the latest schedule and transportation information through official announcements from Hakozaki-gū and Fukuoka City.

Nearby Attractions

The venue, Hakozaki-gū, is known as a deity of warding off misfortune and of victory, and it is a famous shrine that draws many worshippers outside the Hōjōya period as well. Together with a stroll through the precincts and surroundings, visitors can experience the history and faith unique to Fukuoka.

A short trip away, one can enjoy shopping and gourmet food in central Fukuoka such as Hakata and Tenjin, and the location offers easy access to Kushida Shrine, the guardian shrine of Hakata, as well as seaside sightseeing spots. Foods unique to Fukuoka, such as tonkotsu ramen, mentaiko, and motsunabe, are also one of the pleasures of a Hōjōya visit.

Related Information

The Hōjōya of Hakozaki-gū is counted, alongside the Hakata Gion Yamakasa and the Hakata Dontaku, as one of the Three Great Festivals of Hakata and as a representative festival of Fukuoka's autumn. While derived from the Buddhist idea of hōjō, it is observed as a rite of a Hachiman shrine and is accompanied by the bustle of some of the largest food-stall gatherings in the region—a distinctive festival in which faith and popular culture are fused.

Please note that the schedule and the details of the rites and stalls may change from year to year. This article provides an overview of general features, and the origins of Hōjōya and the derivations of individual observances partly rely on tradition. Visitors are asked to be sure to check the latest official information before attending.

Hōjōya