Walking Tour-Ikegami honmonji Oeshiki-Moved by the Enchanting Mando Procession! City Walk [ 4K HD ]

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The "Oeshiki" is an annual event held at Ikegami Honmonji Temple from October 11th to 13th, drawing around 300,000 visitors each year. The festival is filled with lively energy, with rows of food stalls lining the streets, transforming not just the temple grounds but the entire Ikegami area into a festive atmosphere. One of the highlights is the "Mando Procession" on October 12th, which continues late into the night.
Moved by the Enchanting Mando Procession!
Around 6 p.m., just as dusk begins to fall, I arrived at the grand gate and was greeted by the sound of taiko drums and flutes, setting the mood for the event. As the procession began, the leaders twirled their vibrant "matoi" banners, and behind them, the illuminated "mando" lanterns flowed into the temple grounds one after another.
There’s something about the sound of festival music that stirs the hearts of the Japanese. The glow of the mando lanterns against the twilight was truly breathtaking.
The "mando" are beautifully adorned lanterns decorated with floral designs, symbolizing the five-story pagoda and cherry blossoms. It is said that this tradition stems from the legend of cherry blossoms blooming in October when the great Nichiren passed away.
Streets Leading to Ikegami Honmonji Packed with Stalls!
As I made my way from Ikegami Station toward the temple along the old pilgrimage road, "Honmonji Street," I was amazed to see stalls selling everything from chocolate-covered bananas to takoyaki and baby castella cakes. The rows of stalls stretching as far as the eye could see were truly impressive, and just walking down the street instantly lifted my festive spirit.
Among the visitors, I spotted families, office workers stopping by after a long day, high school students on their way home, and local kids enjoying the festival, not to mention people in traditional yukata, adding to the charm of the event. There were also many international tourists savoring the delights of the food stalls.