Taga Taisha Shrine (多賀大社) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Taga. It is the largest shrine in Shiga Prefecture, receiving approximately 1.7 million visitors annually.
Taga Taisha Shrine has such a long history that it is even mentioned in the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest historical book.
The Taga Taisha Shrine is said to grant blessings such as longevity, arranged marriages, and protection against evil spirits, and is always full of worshippers throughout the year, with many attractions including the Taga Shakushi, the Longevity Stone, the Taiko Bridge, and the Manto Festival.
Starting in January, when it typically snows, the sanctuary is enveloped in a dazzling white, mesmerizing visitors.
- Tourist Attraction: Taga Taisha Shrine.
- Location: Taga – Shiga.
- Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Parking: Free (a fee is usually charged during events).
- Restroom: Available.
Parking
Sometimes, at the end of the year, the temple is beautifully illuminated with thousands of LEDs.
Highlights from the festivals that take place annually
The Setsubun Festival is held in February. During this festival, men and women who turn 60 years old throw beans and rice cakes from the stage. This is a ritual to ward off evil spirits and is said to have been first performed at the Imperial Palace in the third year of the Keiun era (706).
In April, the Taga Taisha Shrine holds its important and ancient festival, the Taga Festival, also known as the “Horse Festival” due to the large number of horses that participate in the procession.
The Rice Planting Festival takes place on the first Sunday of June. A rice planting ritual is performed at the main sanctuary, and the faithful, including the priests, pray for a bountiful harvest. Approximately 70 young men and women receive sacred rice seedlings, and the priests, sanaeji, and young women line up and proceed to the rice paddies, where the rice planting begins.
In August, the spectacular Lantern Festival takes place, where more than 10,000 lanterns are lit from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. The Lantern Festival is a celebration of gratitude to the goddesses who protect the spirits of the ancestors and is a famous summer tradition.
In September, the Annual Traditional Festival takes place, an ancient celebration where two young men from the city perform “Kochikochi Sumo,” a sumo wrestling match, to pray for the prosperity of the city.
In September, the Nuibosai Festival takes place, during which about 20 women harvest ripe rice ears from the rice paddies of Gokanda. The harvested ears are then offered at the Niinamesai Festival on November 23rd.
- Setsubun Festival: February 2nd, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Taga Festival: April 22nd, starting at 8:00 AM.
- Rice Planting Festival: June 1st, starting at 1:00 PM.
- Lantern Festival: August 3rd to 5th, lighting from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
- Annual Traditional September Festival: September 9th, starting at 9:00 AM.
- Nuibosai Festival: September 21st, starting at 10:30 AM.
Shiga Inukamigun Taga 604