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In 1696 Sazaemon, the mayor of Miya, which is now part of modern day Gamagori in Aichi Prefecture, dreamt that Yatsurugi-Daimyojin, \u00a0the god of the local Yatsurugi Shrine, upped sticks and moved onto the nearby Wakamiya Shrine by way of a portable mikoshi shrine<\/a>. Of course, being a pious and important man, he quite sensibly saw this as a message directly from the god itself and instructed the locals to hold a ceremony marking this tremendous occasion.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s a good thing that he did as the Miya festival continues to this day as\u00a0one of the most impressive festivals in Japan. Occurring annually on the third or fourth Sunday of October , four immense dashi floats measuring six metres high (20ft) and weighing 4 tonnes are pulled from Yatsurugi-jinga by 300 loin-clothed men to Wakamiya jinga 1.5km away. Well, that\u2019s how it was originally, anyway.<\/p>\n Arduous enough, you would think. However, in 1996 in order to commemorate the festival’s \u00a0300 year anniversary this was altered. Now, rather than simply moseying along the streets,\u00a0they head to the beach to drag a huge mikoshi into the shallow water of Mikawa bay. Once there they follow along the coastline, waist deep in water\u00a0chanting \u201cWasoi! Wasoi!\u201d in unison for encouragement all the while, before dragging the sodden floats out of the water and onwards to the latter shrine.<\/p>\n It really is\u00a0a breath-taking spectacle of physical endurance as well as a brilliant representation of tradition, so much so\u00a0that last year it brought 50,000 people to the coastal town, many arriving early in the morning to bag the best beach spots. So, if you want to see one of the more original and spectacular local festivals, it is advisable to set that Sunday morning alarm early!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can get to Mikawamiya Station 51\u00a0minutes away on the JR\u00a0line from Nagoya Station, changing either at Gamagori or Okazaki. From there it is either a 7 minute taxi or bus, or a 20 minute walk. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Hatsurugi Shrine (Yatsurugi-Jinja\/Nishi no Miya)<\/strong><\/p>\n 139 Nanaho, Miya-cho, Gamagori Wakamiya Shrine (Wakamiya-Jinja\/Higashi no Miya)<\/strong><\/p>\n 91 Ippo, Miya-cho, Gamagori For further information contact Miya Hot Spa Tourism Association at\u00a00533-68-4744 or Gamagori Kanko Kyokai at\u00a00533-68-2526<\/p>\n By Mark Guthrie<\/p>\n![\"Miya](\"http:\/\/japaninfoswap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Miya-Matsuri.jpg\")
<\/a>Have you ever had a dream that resulted in the people of your town dragging immense mikoshi floats into the sea hundreds of years later? No? Ah, well that\u2019s because you\u2019re not the mayor of a 17th<\/sup> century Japanese town.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0Getting there<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n250m south of Mikawa-Miya Sta. on the JR Tokaido Line.<\/p>\n
\n1200m south-east of Mikawa-Miya Sta. on the JR Tokaido Line.<\/p>\n