令和捌年 葵祭「社頭の儀」 “Shato-no-Gi Ritual” of Aoi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine 2026

令和捌年　葵祭「社頭の儀」

下鴨神社　一の鳥居
First Torii Gate of Shimogamo Shrine

令和捌年（2026年）5月15日は京都府京都市左京区にある加茂御祖神社（通称 下鴨神社）に葵祭「社頭の儀｣の撮影に行きました。京阪電鉄　出町柳駅から約徒歩5分　社叢林　糺の森を抜けた先に神社があります。

「社頭の儀」は複数の神事で構成され毎年5月15日にご催行される葵祭の一部です。

私は今回報道関係者として撮影許可をいただき専用の区画から撮影をさせていただきました。

祭員参入の様子
View of priests visiting

下鴨神社が配布しておられる冊子「葵祭」から参照いたします。～社頭の儀　行列が下鴨神社に到着するとただちに社頭の儀が執り行われる。社頭の儀は約一時間におよぶ路頭の儀を経て、若葉繁る糺の森の奥へとすすみ、いよいよ伝統の祭儀の開始である。

斎王代女人列 参入
Saioh-dai and her women's procession enter the shrine

社頭の儀 斎王代女人列の様子
View of Saioh-dai and her Women on the “Shato-no-gi ritual”

行列が一の鳥居(楼門前鳥居)に着くと斎王代も童女に裾を持たせて歩いて参進。

勅使参入
Imperial envoy entering the shrine

勅使は厳重な祓を受けられ、舞人・陪従（べいじゅう）を従えて楼門を入り、剣の間で腰の剣を解かれます。これは下鴨神社のみで行われる作法で、御祭神が女性の玉依媛命（たまよりひめのみこと）であることに由来するものです。

勅使舞殿の祭文の座に着座
Imperial envoy who takes his seat in the place called Saimon-no-za in the Sacred Dance Hall

御幣物は内蔵使代によって中門前の左右に置かれる
View of Kura-tsukai-dai make offerings to either side of the Middle Gate

そして、勅使は内蔵使（くらつかい）代から御祭文を受け取り舞殿の祭文の座に着座します。次に内蔵寮史生（くらりょうのしりょう）代は唐櫃から御幣物を取り内蔵使代に進めます。御幣物は内蔵使代によって中門前の左右に置かれる。勅使は微音にて紅色の御祭文を奏上。

勅使御祭文を奏上
Imperial envoy reads the sacred letter

宮司・権宮司がそれぞれ御幣物を奉じて東西本殿に納める。直ちに宮司は舞殿の北階を昇り、勅使に神宣を伝える。権宮司は大神からの賜りものである神禄の葵桂を舞殿北庭の案上(机)に置き、蹲踞（そんきょ）にて返祝詞（かえしのりと）を申し上げます。

宮司が勅使に神禄を授ける
Imperial envoy receives a Shinroku from the Chief Priest

平安朝以来の古儀のままに勅使と柏手を打ちあうやがて神禄を捧げ持って宮司は舞殿に昇り、勅使に授けます。

斎王代 退下
Saioh-dai exiting the shrine

牽馬の儀
View of Kemba Ritual

勅使が舞殿より退下されると、陪従が歌を唱えます。その歌につれて馬寮使（めりょうつかい）が神馬二頭を西から東に三回ひき回す牽馬の儀が行われます。

舞楽「東遊」の「駿河舞」奉納
Court Dance & Music "Azuma-asobi" Dedication, dancers perform the "Suruga-mai" dance

勅使と雅楽師
Imperial envoy and Court Music masters

舞楽「東遊」の「求子舞」奉納
Court Dance & Music "Azuma-asobi" Dedication, dancers perform the "Motogo no Mai" dance

陪従たちの奏楽に合わせ、舞人が舞殿に昇って優雅な東游（あずまあそび）が舞われます。

やがて舞をおさめ、勅使が退下されると、社頭の儀は終了します。

引き続き糺の森の馬場では走馬（そうめ）の儀が行われ、数頭の馬が繰り返し疾走します。

この儀をもって一切が終了します。～（以下略）とあります。

「社頭の儀」催儀場所
View of the Area of“Shato-no-Gi Ritual” holding

「社頭の儀」は楼門から舞殿を挟んで中門までの間で主に行われます。報道エリアは中門より東側にある御祈祷受付あたりで、斎王代がこの儀式の間お過ごしになる西側にある神服殿がよく見える場所でした。

茂山社中による狂言奉納
Kyogen performance dedication by the Shigeyama Troupe

「社頭の儀」終了後は馬場で「走馬の儀」がおこなわれますが、今回は敢えて残り舞殿で行われた「茂山社中による狂言奉納」を撮影しました。

斎王代女人列 出発
View of Saioh-dai and her women's procession departing from the shrine

その後、昼休憩を終えて祭列が出発していく様子を撮影しました。

斎王代女人列 出発
View of Saioh-dai and her women's procession departing from the shrine

他の祭りでも祭列が現代の街並みを通過する様子は撮影しますが、葵祭は平安装束という時代絵巻そのものが間の前を通過する様子は「圧巻」の一言でした。

下鴨神社、祭り関係者、そして、参加者の皆様ありがとうございました。

 

撮影機材:

CANON EOS 5D Mark III、EOS R6

CANON EF16-35mm F4.0L IS USM、EF24-105mm F4.0L IS USM、EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II USM

編集ソフトウェア: Adwaa Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 11

 

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掲載内容の更新日2026年05月30日

“Shato-no-Gi Ritual” of Aoi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine 2026

祭員参入の様子
View of priests visiting

It went to photograph of “Shato-no-Gi Ritual” of Aoi Festival to Shimogamo Shrine located at the Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Sakyo ward at the 15th May 2026, and that is located about 5 minutes from Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi station pass away Tadasu Forest.

The “Shato-no-Gi Ritual” is part of the Aoi Festival, and that consists of several rituals and is held annually on May 15th.

This time, as a member of the press, I was granted permission to photograph from a designated area.

The following is an excerpt from the official booklet about Aoi Festival. ～ The “Shato-no-Gi Ritual” The 1st event after arriving at Shimogamo is the “Shato-no-Gi Ritual”. After a "Roto-no-gi Ritual" that lasts about an hour, the rituals proceed deep into the lush, young-leaf Tadasu Forest, marking the start of the traditional rituals.

斎王代女人列 参入
Saioh-dai and her women's procession enter the shrine

社頭の儀 斎王代女人列の様子
View of Saioh-dai and her Women on the “Shato-no-gi ritual”

When the festival procession reaches the first torii gate (the torii gate in front of the Tower Gate), the Saioh-dai also walks forward, with a young girl holding the hem of her dress.

勅使参入
Imperial envoy entering the shrine

At the first torii of the shrine the Imperial envoy and each rider dismounts, take his place be leader of the procession, and receives purification from a stick with talisman attached to the end called a Harai. After passing through the Tower Gate, he enter the Ken-no-ma his sword at the waist is untied. So that, this manner is performed only at Shimogamo Shrine and originates from the fact that the Shinto Goddess, Tamayorihime-no-Mikoto. 

勅使舞殿の祭文の座に着座
Imperial envoy who takes his seat in the place called Saimon-no-za in the Sacred Dance Hall

A Cheif Priest presents a sacred letter to the Imperial envoy who takes his seat in the place called Saimon-no-za in the Sacred Dance Hall.

御幣物は内蔵使代によって中門前の左右に置かれる
View of Kura-tsukai-dai make offerings to either side of the Middle Gate

勅使御祭文を奏上
Imperial envoy reads the sacred letter

Then Kura-tsukai-dai make offerings to either side of the Middle Gate. The Imperial envoy reads the sacred letter.

Next Chief Priest and Associate Chief Priest, having made other offerings, report to the Imperial envoy that all offerings were smoothly, safely, and joyful accomplished.

宮司が勅使に神禄を授ける
Imperial envoy receives a Shinroku from the Chief Priest

At the end, the Imperial envoy receives a Shinroku which he puts in his crown or Kanmuri.

斎王代 退下
Saioh-dai exiting the shrine

牽馬の儀
View of Kemba Ritual

The Kemba (Horse Driving) Ritual follows.

舞楽「東遊」の「駿河舞」奉納
Court Dance & Music "Azuma-asobi" Dedication, dancers perform the "Suruga-mai" dance

雅楽師
View of Court Music masters

舞楽「東遊」の「求子舞」奉納
Court Dance & Music "Azuma-asobi" Dedication, dancers perform the "Motogo no Mai" dance

After AZUMA ASOBI dance, horse races are held at the course for an hour and a half. ～ (The following omitted).

「社頭の儀」催儀場所
View of the Area of“Shato-no-Gi Ritual” holding

The "Shato-no-Gi Ritual" is mainly held in the area from the Tower Gate through the Sacred Dance Hall to the Middle Gate. The press area was located near the prayer reception house east of the Middle Gate, offering a good view of the Shinpukuden, the hall on the west side where the Saioh-dai would stay during the ritual.

茂山社中による狂言奉納
Kyogen performance dedication by the Shigeyama Troupe

After the "Shato-no-Gi Ritual" concludes, the "Running of the Horses" takes place in the horse riding grounds, but this time I deliberately chose to photograph the "Kyogen Dedication by the Shigeyama Troupe" which was held in the Sacred dance hall. Afterwards, I photographed the festival procession departing after their lunch break.

斎王代女人列 出発
View of Saioh-dai and her women's procession departing from the shrine

While I've photographed festival processions passing through modern city streets at other festivals, the Aoi Festival, with its Heian-period costumes, was truly breathtaking and beautiful as it passed right in front of me like a historical picture scroll.

I thank you for everyone of this festival.

 

Equipment: CANON EOS 5D Mark III, EOS R6

CANON EF16-35mm F4.0L IS USM, EF24-105mm F4.0L IS USM, EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II USM

Software: Adwaa Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 11

 

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This page was last modified: May 30, 2026.