Suwa Shrine Festival

The Suwa Shrine Annual Festival in Yokosuka is the largest festival in the city, held in the Yokosuka Central area every year on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 25. Locally, it is affectionately known as the "Shitamachi Festival" and is a seasonal tradition that signals the arrival of summer in Yokosuka. 

The main features and highlights of the annual festival are as follows. 

Schedule: The weekend closest to May 25 each year (in 2026, it will be held on May 23-24). 

Shitamachi Union Mikoshi Procession: The highlight of the festival, where the mikoshi, led by Sarutahiko, is dynamically carried through the main street in front of Yokosuka Central Station (Prefectural Route 26). 

Eve Festival: Held on the first evening, the mantō mikoshi parade moves through the town, and many festival stalls appear, creating a lively atmosphere.

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Regarding the founding of Suwa Shrine, historical record states, 'On March 12, 1573, during the reign of Emperor Ōgimachi, the spirit of Suwa Myōjin of Shinano Province was enshrined.' 

According to clear records, in August of 1801, the main hall and worship hall were rebuilt, and the current shrine buildings were constructed in 1923. 

In ancient times, the shrine was located in Taki, Nakayokosuka, Yokosuka Village, Miura District (the present-day downtown shopping street area), standing on a hill overlooking the sea, with a view stretching across Edo Bay, constantly accompanied by the sound of the waves. The scattered residents primarily made their living through fishing, and accordingly, the shrine was revered as a guardian deity of fishing. 

During the Meiji era, with the establishment of the Yokosuka naval port, the number of newcomers increased yearly, leading to plans to cut down and reclaim the nearby hills and cliffs, which threatened the existence of the shrine. However, three devoted individuals donated land, and the shrine was relocated to its present location. Incidentally, the land reclamation in this area was mainly carried out by Mr. Katsushichi Takahashi, and the area was named Wakamatsu Town after his shop name, Wakamatsu-ya. 

In May 1922, it was ranked as a village shrine, and in September of the same year, it was designated as a shrine entitled to receive offerings of sacred food and monetary offerings. 

Since then, as a central shrine in the downtown commercial area of Yokosuka City, its divine authority has greatly increased. Especially notable are the annual festival in May and the Tori-no-Ichi festival in November (the annual festival of the subordinate Ōwashi Shrine), which are widely known among citizens as traditional events of the downtown area.