Beginning of Climbing Season on Mt. Hiko

添田町　英彦山山開き

The beginning of climbing season on Mt. Hiko is on a Sunday late in May every year, marking the start of the mountain’s summer season.
On the eve of the season’s start, local Junior and Senior Associations dedicate the Masakarimai (the dance of two mountain priests incorporating an ax) and other Yamabushi (mountain priest) performances to the mountain gods, then eat a dinner of grilled chicken.
The next day (the first day of the climbing season), a prayer ceremony for the safety of climbers is first held at Hikosan Hillside Shrine’s worship sanctuary, and Japanese-style memorial hand towels are given away at the peak!
Celebrate the beginning of climbing season on Mt. Hiko, which is known as a hallowed mountain for worship!

Address (Japanese)	824-0721　福岡県田川郡添田町英彦山1 英彦山神宮奉幣殿・山頂（上宮）
Address	Hikosanjingu Hillside Shrine, Hikosan, Soeda Town, Tagawa County, Fukuoka
Telephone Number	0947-82-1236（添田町役場まちづくり課）
Contact	Soeda Town Project Division Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Section
Car Park	Available
Access	By train and bus - Take a municipal bus from JR Hikosan Station on the Hita-Hikosan Line and get off at Jingu Shita bus stop (about a 25 minute ride); about a 15 minute walk from there
Website	http://www.town.soeda.fukuoka.jp/