Photo: ddio · CC BY-SA 2.0
Three days after the Agata Matsuri, on 8 June, Agata Shrine holds the Ōnusa Shinji (大幣神事). Bearers carry huge ōnusa purification wands through the old triangular grid of streets to gather the town's pestilence. A sacred horse gallops down Agata-dōri, and the wands are then cast into the Uji River at Uji Bridge.
Why it's unique
The Ōnusa Shinji is Agata Shrine's own purification rite. The rite itself happens only here, but no source makes a claim stronger than "this town's own purification rite", so it is held at prefecture level.
What you see is specific: a sacred horse at full gallop down a 400 m street closed to traffic, and purification wands dragged towards the crowd before being thrown into the river.
Before you go
No timetable is published online, which is why almost nobody comes. Stand halfway along Agata-dōri, the 400 m north to south street, which is closed to traffic. That is where the horse is at full speed. In 2019 the bearers slammed their wands down and dragged them towards the crowd at about 11:50, and the horse came through at about 11:54. It is over in seconds, so have the camera up before you hear it. Watch the whole procession too, not just the horse.
