It is the largest festival of Itsukushima Shrine, held on the 17th day of the 6th month of the lunar calendar, and is one of the three major boat festivals in Japan.
It is said to have originated when Taira no Kiyomori brought the "Kangen no Asobi" (orchestral performance) from the capital to Miyajima.
Accompanied by the music of gagaku, the elegance and splendor of the imperial barge crossing the sea is reminiscent of scenes from the Heian-period picture scrolls.