This is an annual festival of Okunitama-jinja Shrine in Fuchu City, Tokyo.

The festival has a history of more than 1,000 years, originating from the "Kokufu-sai " of Musashi Province, and is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Various Shinto rituals are held during the seven days from April 30 to May 6 every year, but the most exciting event is the "Mikoshi togyo (portable shrine procession)" on May 5, when six large drums are sounded to signal the start of fireworks and eight portable shrines move to Otabisho (the intersection of the old Koshu-kaido and Fuchu-kaido roads).

The name "Kurayami Matsuri" comes from the fact that this "Mikoshi togyo" used to be held in the dark, with all the lights in the city turned off.

Other events worth seeing include the "Koma-Kurabe" (May 3), in which six horses run back and forth along the old Koshu-kaido road, and the "Dashi gyoretsu / procession of floats" (May 4), in which as many as 22 floats in a parade.

During the festival, the town is crowded with about 500 stalls, and many visitors come for the Kanto Grand Plant Fair held on the east side of the shrine grounds, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the town.

東京都府中市 にある大國魂神社 の例大祭。 武蔵国の「国府祭」を起源とする1,000年以上の歴史を持つ祭りで、東京都の無形民俗文化財に指定されています。

毎年4月30日から5月6日までの7日間、さまざまな神事が執り行われますが、最も盛り上がるのは5月5日の「神輿渡御」です。6つの大太鼓が打ち鳴らされて花火が打ち上げられます。そして8基の神輿が御旅所（旧甲州街道と府中街道の交差点）に移動します。

「くらやみ祭り」の名前の由来は、この「神輿渡御」がかつて街中の明かりを消し、暗闇の中で行われていたことに由来しています。
その他、6頭の馬が旧甲州街道を往復する「駒くらべ」（5月3日）や、パレードには22台もの山車が登場します。

祭り期間中は町内に約500の露店が並び、境内東側で開催される関東大植物市には多くの見物客が訪れ、町全体がお祭りムードに包まれます。

#kurayamimatsuri​
#mikoshitogyo​
#okunitamashrine
#okunitamajinja​
#fuchu​
#tokyo​
#japan​
#matsurijapan
#japantraditionalfestival
#くらやみ祭り​
#神輿渡御​
#東京都府中市​
#大國魂神社​