If you are looking for a shrine to visit when you come to Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, we recommend the Achi Shrine (阿智神社) at the top of Mt. Tsurugata (鶴形山) in its north. Not only the shrine has a history of more than 1,700 years, but there is also a super old and huge wisteria tree that is said to be between 300 to 500 years old! The trunk is thick so thick that it has a diameter of 1.5 meters Σ(ﾟДﾟ).
But as a test of the worshipers’ determination, to get to the shrine, you have to climb through around 200 staircases divided into three sections. As an encouragement, each section is named after the nickname of 50 years old, 60 years old, and 70 years old, symbolizing you will be able to live till that age. While living past 50 years old isn’t considered a rare thing nowadays, many didn’t make it back then!
The main god enshrined here looks after the prosperity of businesses, perfect for the small businesses at Kurashiki Historical Bikan Quarter now and the trading businesses a few hundred years ago. Apart from the main worship hall, quite a few smaller halls enshrined different gods scattered around the precinct of Achi Shrine.
Festivals at Achi Shrine
Back to the wisteria at Achi Shrine, the season of the wisteria flowers is from late April to early May. During the season, the wisteria event, Fujimi-no-Kai (藤見の会), is held to entertain the shrine’s worshipers. In 2024, Fujimi-no-Kai will be held on the 20th and the 21st of April.
Traditional music is performed under the wisteria pergola from 10 am to 3 pm each day, with various events such as the traditional noh play. The most exciting event is probably the performance, where females are dressed up in traditional warrior gear and firing guns used a couple of hundred years ago!
Achi Shrine is one of those shrines in Japan that have many festivals and events throughout the year.
- Kurashiki Hinamatsuri (倉敷雛めぐり) – Kurashiki’s Doll’s Festival: late February to mid-March from 9 am to 3 pm
- This is your chance to see some rare Hina dolls on display.
- Cherry Blossom Festival: early April from 10 am to 3 pm
- With 300 yen, you will be able to admire the flowers with a bowl of matcha tea and a piece of Japanese sweet
- Spring Festival (春季例大祭): the third Saturday in May from 10 am and from 5:30 pm
- Rituals and traditional dancing will be performed.
- Kids’ Sumo (子供相撲大会): the third Sunday of May from 10 am
- It is an event for the local kids to show off their sumo skills.
- Autumn Festival (秋季例大祭): the third Saturday and Sunday of October
- On Saturday
- Well-decorated floats are pulled throughout the Kurashiki Bikan Quarter from 8 am.
- Ritual is performed at the shrine from 10 am.
- Traditional dancing is performed at the shrine from 5:30 pm.
- On Sunday, from 7 am, around 200 men and women will parade throughout the city with a smaller portable float. At quite a few places around Kurashiki Bikan Quarter, different rituals and performances will also take place. These include shrine maidens traveling on the traditional boats on the Kurashiki River.
- On Saturday
- Autumn Kurashiki Martial Art Festival (秋季倉敷古武道祭): on the 3rd of November from 10 am
- This is where people who have been mastering their Japanese martial art demonstrate their results from training.
Achi Shrine’s Other Flower’s Blooming Schedule
- Cherry blossom: late March to early April
- Azalea: mid-April to mid-May
How to Get to Achi Shrine
It is a 15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station (倉敷駅). Note it might take longer depending on how fast you climb those staircases…
Explore the Rest of the Kurashiki Historical Bikan Quarter
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is a historic area filled with traditional Japanese buildings, perfect for some photography sessions.
With a variety of shops, trendy cafes and galleries in the area, you can easily spend a whole day here without getting bored!
Find out more about this gorgeous part of Japan with our Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter article!
