Sannō Festival

The Sanno Festival at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine near Otsu is held each April and centers on a story of divine reunion and conception. The deities Kamotamayorihime and Oyamaakui, considered husband and wife who live apart in separate shrines, are brought together on April 12 when their mikoshi poles are tied together to symbolize their union. The following day, community events celebrate the anticipated birth, including a tea offering from the shrine's own fields. On April 14, a thousand-person procession carries the mikoshi to Lake Biwa by barge. The festival involves hundreds of community members and is anchored in Hiyoshi Taisha's annual ritual cycle.