Making rice cakes at Hatsuuma Taisai (First Day of the Horse) 初午祭　餅つき式

Note: The 2024 installment of this event has already taken place.

The lunar calendar's first day of the horse in February is called Hatsu-uma. Kyoto's Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, dedicated to the fox deity Inari, was founded 1,300 years ago on the first day of the horse in February, 711. Since then, all Inari shrines have held a special commemorative festival.

Ceremonial red-and-white mochi rice cakes will be made at Mabashi Inari-jinja Shrine while a special song is sung. These cakes will then be presented to the gods, along with prayers for good crops, domestic happiness, and business prosperity. At 15:00, the mochi will be served to visitors, together with a fermented rice wine called amazake.