A festival tradition of prayer, with demon deities and a mikoshi traveling through the streets of Onomichi
Betcha Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/11/01 〜 2026/11/03Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Every year, November 1–November 3 / Every year
- Location
- Ichinomiya Shrine (Kibitsuhiko Shrine) and locations throughout Onomichi
- Area
- Hiroshima Prefecture・Onomichi City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 50 min–4 h 20 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/21
In the Betcha Festival, three demon deities, a shishi lion, and a travel through the streets of Onomichi. The festival traces its origins to prayers for the expulsion of epidemics and continues to carry wishes for the community’s health and children’s growth.
About Betcha Festival
The Betcha Festival is a festival tradition carried on in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Three demon deities called Beta, Soba, and Shōki appear alongside a shishi lion and a mikoshi, with the festival taking place in central Onomichi.
Beginning with prayers for the expulsion of epidemics, the festival remains rooted in the community as an occasion to pray for good health and the healthy growth of children.
Source: （毎年11月1日〜3日）尾道ベッチャー祭り | 祭り・イベント | 観光スポット｜尾道市(しまなみ)の観光情報 / 無病息災を願う 尾道ベッチャー祭：カメラさんぽ（432） - カメラさんぽ - 尾道市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the procession through the city, led by three demon deities with a shishi lion and a mikoshi.
The demon deities carry祝棒 and sasara, chasing people along the route and striking or prodding them on the head.
music overlaps with the calls of “Beta,” “Soba,” and “Shōki,” creating a distinctive festival atmosphere in Onomichi’s shopping streets and areas around the station.
A festival tradition of prayer, with demon deities and a mikoshi traveling through the streets of Onomichi
What to expect
The festival proceeds with the mikoshi , the grand festival ceremony, and a procession of the demon deities and mikoshi.
During the mikoshi togyo, the mikoshi goes into town with a shishi lion, while ceremonies and events are held at the grand festival.
During the procession on the final day, the demon deities, shishi lion, and mikoshi travel through the city, and the mikoshi eventually returns to Ichinomiya Shrine.
How to take part
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ichinomiya Shrine (Kibitsuhiko Shrine) and locations throughout Onomichi
- Train and bus
10-minute walk east along National Route 2 from JR Onomichi Station
- By car
In 2026, about 20 minutes via National Route 2 from Fukuyama-nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway
- Parking
In 2026, there is no parking at the venue.
Paid parking is available around the city.
Source: 尾道 ベッチャー祭 公式サイト | Onomnichi Betcha festival / 尾道ベッチャー祭り（広島県／尾道市街）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more.
Address 9-16 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima
Dates and season
In 2026, the festival is scheduled to take place from November 1 (Sun) to November 3 (Tue, national holiday).
November 1: The mikoshi procession begins at 6 p.m., and the mikoshi is scheduled to arrive at the at 9:30 p.m.
November 2: A grand festival ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m., followed by a Urasen no Mai dance offering at 6 p.m.
November 3: The procession is scheduled to travel around various parts of the city from 8:10 a.m., with the mikoshi returning to Ichinomiya Shrine at 6:30 p.m.
Source: 尾道 ベッチャー祭 | 祭事予定
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hiroshima Prefecture / Onomichi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the demon procession, there are scenes in which people are struck on the head or poked in the body with sasara or blessing rods.
Very large crowds are expected at the festival, so watch safely from a spot that does not obstruct the procession or the movement of people nearby.
The offering events on the 2nd may be canceled or changed in the event of rain.
Nearby attractions
おのみち歴史博物館
広島県尾道市にある博物館
なかた美術館
広島県尾道市にある美術館
千光寺公園
広島県尾道市の公園
尾道市立美術館
広島県尾道市にある美術館
Origins and History of Betcha Festival
The Betcha Festival began with prayers in 1807, in the late Edo period, for recovery from an epidemic spreading in Onomichi and the banishment of disease-causing spirits.
At Kibitsuhiko Shrine, prayers were held for three days and two nights. The festival is said to have begun when young people dressed as a shishi lion and demons took to the town, with the mikoshi at the head of the procession.
In 1962, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Onomichi City, and it is now also recognized as a component cultural property of Japan Heritage.
Source: ベッチャー祭り - Wikipedia
Official information
尾道ベッチャー祭保存会の公式ホームページとして、onomichi.main.jp が案内されています。
Contact information for the Onomichi Betcha Festival Preservation Society is also provided for festival inquiries.
Betcha Festival at a Glance
The Betcha Festival is a distinctive festival in which demon deities, a shishi lion, and a mikoshi travel through central Onomichi.
The festival originated with prayers in 1807 for the expulsion of epidemics. Being struck or prodded by the demon deities carries wishes for good health and children’s growth.
The mikoshi togyo, grand festival, and procession each offer a glimpse of the festival tradition passed down in Onomichi.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/21
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