Hi everyone, I’m SacChi, your local blogger from Kochi 🌿
As we enter mid-October, mornings and evenings are finally cooling down—but here in Kochi, daytime temperatures are still hovering around 30°C. It seems summer isn’t quite ready to say goodbye just yet.
On days like these, I find myself reminiscing about one of my most refreshing walks this year: the Asamine Shrine Wind Chime Festival in Kera.
While the 2025 event ended in late September, I wanted to share this peaceful seasonal experience with you—for inspiration next summer!
⛩ What is the Asamine Shrine Wind Chime Festival?
Asamine Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to blessings for safe childbirth, fertility, and sake brewing. In 2025, it launched its first Furin Matsuri (Wind Chime Festival)—and it’s already become a beloved local tradition.
🗓️ Held annually from the end of the rainy season through September 30
🚗 Located just 15 minutes by car from Kochi City
🅿️ Free on-site parking available (some narrow roads—drive carefully!)
Under bright summer skies, over 1,000 wind chimes sway in the breeze, creating a tunnel of shimmering light and soothing sounds. It’s an immersive sensory escape from the lingering heat.
🎐 Festival Walkthrough: A Sound & Light Installation
Climb the stone steps, and you’ll be welcomed by rows of colorful wind chimes swaying gently in the wind. Each one produces a delicate, transparent note—together they create a melody that calms your soul.
✨ The entire shrine becomes an “installation of sound and light”
🎋 Watch the tanzaku (paper wishes) flutter—many written by children
🐾 Don’t miss the ema (wooden prayer plaques) with paw prints of dogs!
🎣 Even the omikuji fortunes are presented fishing-style—how fun!
The festival is filled with thoughtful little touches that blend tradition with modern charm.
🗺️ Shrine Info & Access
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Asamine Shrine |
| Address | 1927 Kera-Otsu, Kochi City, Kochi Pref. |
| Phone | 088-860-1482 |
| Open Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Closed | Wednesdays (except holidays & Inu-no-hi) |
| Parking | On-site (free) |
| By Car | ~15 mins from Kochi City / ~10 mins from Nangoku IC |
| By Bus | 5-min walk from Tosaden “Kitajima” stop |
| Google Maps | https://maps.app.goo.gl/LgGkNv7WFGZvzG4Y9 |
⚠️ Tips for Visiting
- 🎐 For peak wind chime sounds, visit in the morning or early evening when breezes are stronger
- 📸 Bring your camera—there’s no shortage of photo-worthy moments
- 🧘♀️ Early morning or dusk visits are less crowded & more peaceful
- ⚠️ Roads near the shrine are narrow—drive with caution
🔍 Final Thoughts
The gentle sounds of over 1,000 wind chimes create more than just a refreshing atmosphere—they offer a healing, meditative experience that stays with you long after your visit.
Combining ancient spiritual traditions with artistic flair, the Wind Chime Festival at Asamine Shrine is a shining example of how rural shrines can become new cultural landmarks.
While this year’s festival has ended, chances are high it will return next summer. If you’re seeking a tranquil seasonal escape in Kochi, make sure this breezy, musical walk is on your list.
Today, as the heat lingers, I find myself scrolling through photos from that day…
And remembering the calm, clear sounds of summer.
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