Funahiki Festival at Bandai Shrine

Festival highlights

A highlight is the three rounds of boat pulling, with ujiko split into east and west teams pulling against each other with a wooden boat carrying three rice bales.

The outcome—whether the east, where Mount Bandai stands, or the west wins—is used to divine the year’s harvest and rice prices.

A shinshoku wearing an Okina mask stands at the front of the boat and judges the result as a figure identified with Bandai Myojin.

At the beginning of the festival, three miko dances featuring sakaki branches, bows, and swords are also performed as a hono offering.

Source: F-37.磐梯神社 | エリア情報とジオサイト | 磐梯山ジオパーク

A spring festival in Bandai Town, where rice bales on a boat carry hopes for a good harvest

What to expect

The festival begins with a miko dance performed before the deity to welcome Bandai Myojin, followed by the boat pulling.

The boat used is a wooden one carrying three rice bales and a gohei. Ujiko split into east and west teams pull ropes attached to either end.

The contest takes place in three rounds, with the result judged by a shinshoku wearing an Okina mask.

Visitors watch the teams pull the ropes at the signal of a taiko and enjoy the traditional dances.

How to take part

The boat pulling is a shinji performed by ujiko. It has not been confirmed whether general visitors can join in pulling the ropes.

According to past accounts, the boat pulling was once mainly performed by men, but children and women are now said to take part as well.

Visitors watch the miko dances performed before the deity and the boat pulling, in which participants split into east and west teams.

Location and access

Venue and address

Bandai Shrine (5300 Namisugi, Bandai, Bandai Town)

Train and bus

About 20 minutes on foot from JR Bandaimachi Station.

By car

About 5 minutes from Bandai-Kawahigashi IC on the Ban-etsu Expressway.

Parking

There is no parking at Bandai Shrine; use the parking lot at the Bandaisan Eni-ji Temple Museum.

Source: 磐梯神社の舟引き祭りと巫女舞 - ふくしまの旅

Address 5300 Namisugi, Bandai, Bandai Town

Open in Google Maps

Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed event date has passed)

In 2026, the event was held on March 20 (Friday), the spring equinox.

It is usually held on the spring equinox as a festival at Bandai Shrine.

The event is listed as featuring both boat pulling and miko dances on the same day.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

As the boat-pulling takes place as part of a shrine festival, visitors should watch quietly from the designated areas without disrupting the shinji.

There is no parking at the venue; visitors arriving by car should use the parking lot at the Bandaisan Eni-ji Temple Museum.

The 2026 event was held on March 20 and has now ended.

Please check the schedule and visitor arrangements for the next event before it takes place.

Origins and History of Funahiki Festival at Bandai Shrine

The Funahiki Festival is said to have originated as an event in the Okuni Festival once held at Eni-ji Temple.

After Eni-ji Temple was abolished following the separation of Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji Restoration, Bandai Shrine, which enshrines Bandai Myojin, became independent, and the festival was passed on to the shrine.

The festival was temporarily suspended during the war, but was revived after the war by ujiko from Honji, Bandai Town.

The miko dances were suspended for a time during the Meiji period and revived in Showa 45.

Official information

Event information is published on “Fukushima no Tabi” by the Fukushima Tourism and Local Products Association, a public interest incorporated foundation.

問い合わせ先として磐梯町観光協会が案内され、関連URLは 問い合わせ先として磐梯町観光協会が案内され、関連URL↗ です。

Information on the festival’s cultural significance and background is also available in the National Register of Cultural Properties Database.

Funahiki Festival at Bandai Shrine at a Glance

The Funahiki Festival at Bandai Shrine is a traditional shinji in which people split into east and west teams to pull against each other with a wooden boat loaded with rice bales. The outcome is used to divine the harvest and other matters.

In the three rounds of boat pulling, a shinshoku wearing an Okina mask judges the result as Bandai Myojin.

At the beginning of the festival, local girls also perform miko dances with sakaki branches, bows, and swords as a hono offering.

In 2026, it was held at Bandai Shrine on March 20.