The portable Shinto shrine processions and float parades through the town of the festivals Kami no Matsuri at Taga-Jinja Shinto Shrine and Shimo no Matsuri at Hachiman Yakumo-Jinja Shinto Shrine have been carried out since the Edo period (1603–1867). Their current form combines the Shinto rituals and townspeople’s cultures from both shrines, the Kiyari (traditional work songs and performances) of high-altitude workers, and the festival music and geisha culture of Edo. These festivals tell the story of the history of the town known as Mulberry City which had prospered through the silk industry.
Today, the two have been combined into the Hachioji Matsuri Festival, representing the traditional culture of Mulberry City and providing the excitement of the festivals of old to festivalgoers.