Kinen-sai (祈年祭, also read as Toshigoi no Matsuri)^[1]: 32 is a festival that was celebrated every year in ancient Japan on February 4th. It was an important observance of the government.^[2] It was held to pray for a good harvest.^{[2][1]: 32 [3]: 33} reflected in its name.^[3]: 33 Emperor Tenmu started the festival in 675. All the shrines of the Engishiki Jinmyocho had to do the ceremony.^[2]

Although agricultural in origin, it quickly developed into a general economic celebration of imperial power.^[3]: 34

During the festival, tribute was offered to the gods, and the ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, but the emperor himself did not participate. In the Heian period, the festival declined and was only celebrated in the Department of Divinities.^[2]

However, the festival stopped being celebrated in the late Muromachi period due to military conflict. It was later revived in a form called sairō by Shirakawa house, the ruling clan of the Department of Divinities. But this form was quite abbreviated. Kinensai would later be revived in the Meiji Restoration.^[2]

It is sometimes contrasted with Niiname-no-Matsuri or the fall festival.^[4][1]: 72

The Engishiki specified imperial involvement with four festivals, the Kinen-sai, the two Ōharae-shikis and Niiname-no-Matsuri for tribute.^[1]: 36

In ancient times, people held domestic rites called Kinen-sai in the February or April and Niinamesai in November. During these rites, people worshiped their ancestors, the god of food, and the hearth deity. They believed the spirits of their ancestors (Oyagami) came to them through the rice.^[5]

It is now celebrated yearly all across Japan^[6] including at Meiji Jingu,^[7] and Isonokami Shrine