The origin of The so-called
Awa kokushi festival (安房国司祭）(tsurugaya-hachimangu-rei-Matsuri)
(鶴が谷八幡宮例祭）is since Yourou era(718)
When the 'Awa's kokushi'(=An administrative officer who was
sent from the imperial court ruled the villages around the shrine in
antiquity to the middle ages.) stayed in this area, villagers prayed for
'rich harvest' and 'peace for the country' to the neighbor gods. this is
the beginning of the festival. After all, this Japanese traditional
festival became the one of the 3 biggest festivals which is called
Kantono Santsuru in Kanto area.
the festival used to be held on 14th and 15th of September, however,
it has been changed on Saturday and Sunday which is
Respect-For-the-aged-day since 2nd year on Heisei era.
On the 2 days of festival, 11 Mikoshiwhich is made with 2 large
rods, 5 Dashi and ofunefrom Houjou area are gathered in
Tsurugaya-Hachimangu This is the very moment that people waited for a long year to see.
In 16th year of Heisei era, this festival won the approval of to be
Designated-intangible-cultural-asset And about 100,000 people visit
this here in 2 days every year.
Yawata-no-machi is constructed by 2 words.
Yawata= Yawata-shirine
Machi = festival