Go to south !

by Kazu

It has been a year since my wife and I visited the Port City Hakodate and oldest town in Hokkaido Esashi last time. We were heading to the southern part of Hokkaido on a certain day in June. The peak of Mt. Yotei was hidden by the white cloud in the blue sky.

I got married twenty seven years ago while I was worked in the branch office of Hokkaido Prefectural Government in this town. I was assigned to this town about thirty years ago. I was astounded by the oldest enthusiastic festival in Hokkaido for Ubagami Shrine in this town..

The portable shrine called "Mikoshi" in Japanese, was carried into this shrine and carried out several times in the evening before the start of the festival. The ritual is called "Yoinomiya".  A variety of floats sponsored by the communities in the town are drawn around in the town during the festival. The model of the floats were displayed in the showcase on the premises of this shrine.