Kamimizo Summer Festival

The Kamimizo Summer Festival has been held in Sagamihara since the end of the Edo period (1603-1868). The festival is said to be dedicated to Emperor Ushira, who prays for a good harvest and safety of the family, and is said to have been inspired by the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. On Sunday evenings, the local portable shrines (Mikoshi) and floats (Dashi) gather from each town and start a grand procession. Once the evening sun goes down, the lanterns of the portable shrines are lit, creating a fantastic spectacle that is not to be missed.