Shrine · Fuchu

Okunitama Shrine 大國魂神社

Western Tokyo's grand ancient shrine in Fuchu, founded in the first century and once the capital shrine of Musashi Province, reached via a towering zelkova avenue and famous for the night-time Kurayami Matsuri in early May.

About

Tradition dates Okunitama Shrine to the year 111, and in the Nara period it became the soja of Musashi Province, the single shrine where the governor could worship the province's six principal deities at once, which is why it is also called Rokusho-gu. The approach is the Baba Daimon Keyaki Namiki, a roughly half-kilometre avenue of giant zelkova trees designated a National Natural Monument. The main hall, rebuilt in 1667 by the fourth shogun Ietsuna, is a Tokyo Cultural Property. The shrine is famed for the Kurayami Matsuri ("darkness festival", April 30–May 6), one of the Kanto's great festivals, when eight mikoshi are carried through the town at night beneath gigantic drums. In July the Sumomo Matsuri plum (sumomo) market sells crow-design fans and fruit, and in late September the Kuri Matsuri sees firewood-lit kyogen performances. It is also known for yakuyoke, warding off bad luck.

Highlights

• Kurayami Matsuri (Apr 30–May 6): eight mikoshi and giant drums processing at night
• Roughly half-kilometre zelkova avenue, a National Natural Monument
• Ancient soja shrine of Musashi Province, said to date to 111 AD
• 1667 main hall built by shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna
• Sumomo Matsuri plum and crow-fan fair on July 20
• Takigi kyogen by firelight during the autumn Kuri Matsuri

Tips

• From Fuchu Station (Keio Line) it is about 5 minutes; the zelkova avenue starts right outside the station.
• Gates open 6:00 (Apr–mid-Sep) or 6:30 (mid-Sep–Mar) and close at 17:00; goshuin 9:00–17:00.
• The Kurayami Matsuri highlight, the mikoshi procession on the evening of May 5, is packed, book a Fuchu restaurant seat or arrive early.
• Combine with Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu), a short walk south.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu)Sports & Sumo · 720 m away
• Fuchu Kyodo-no-mori MuseumMuseum · 1.3 km away
• Fuchunomori ParkPark · 1.6 km away
• Sengenyama ParkPark · 2.5 km away
• Otaka-no-Michi & Mamagashita SpringsLocal Secret · 3.0 km away
• Sakuragaoka ParkPark · 3.3 km away
• Yaho TenmanguShrine · 3.4 km away
• Tonogayato GardenGarden · 3.5 km away