The Garasha (a Japanese transliteration of "Gracia") Matsuri is a festival held every year during November in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto-fu, Japan. The festival is held to commemorate the life of Tama ("Gracia") Hosokawa (aka "Garasha") one of the first Christians who lived in the area. The main parade is held on the second Sunday of November from around 1:00pm on wards.

Although the festival celebrates the life of one of the first Christians in the area (who was famous for her compassionate philanthropy), most of the festival is Shinto based. The main parade has people dressed in costume playing the parts of Garasha, her family and friends, as well as various Mikoshi (portable Shinto Shrines) being carried from one Shrine to another. Various other groups take part in the parade such as Scouts, Karate Clubs, Marching Bands, Dance Groups, Workers from a local Mitsubishi Factory and members of the American and Chinese communities in Nagaokakyo.

This gallery contains photos I took at the first Garasha Matsuri parade I attended on the 8th of November 2009.