Sawara, Chiba - part 3

The next stop was Yasaka Shrine, which is next to the Festival Float Museum.

Information from the website:

Following the example of Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine (formerly called Gion Shrine), Katori’s Yasaka Shrine began as a facility to honor Gozu Tennō, the deity of pestilence believed to cause epidemics, who was both feared and propitiated for protection. However, in 1868, an edict to separate Shinto and Buddhism was issued. As such, facilities sacred to Gozu Tennō were renamed as Yasaka Shrine and Gozu Tennō was replaced by Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Shinto equivalent of Gozu Tennō.

Every year on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately following July 10th, Yasaka Shrine holds the Sawara Grand Summer Festival, also known as Gion Festival, during which 10 splendid floats parade the streets. The Sawara Grand Summer Festival, along with its autumn counterpart, the Sawara Grand Autumn Festival, organized by Suwa Shrine, are designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by the government. Yasaka Shrine is about a 10 minute walk from JR Sawara Station.

Suigo Sawara Festival Float Museum 

This three story museum shows two of the floats that are used in the festivals. As you climb to the other floors, you can see the floats from each level. 

There are pictures of all the festival floats as you go up stairs. (This is me.)

Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

I stayed overnight at the Hotel Route-Inn Katori Sawara Ekimae and it was very good - public bath, buffet breakfast, comfortable room, and near the train station.

This is the end of Day 1, but this is still a little more to come...