A six-yearly island ritual honoring the mountain deity in a forest protected and passed down by 4 groups
Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every 6 years / Every 6 years
- Location
- “Yama” on Hēsaijima
- Area
- Yamaguchi Prefecture・Shimonoseki City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 min · flight time only)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.
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
A ritual held every 6 years in which the households of Hēsaijima are divided into 4 groups, each worshiping the mountain deity in a natural forest called “yama,” believed to be inhabited by spirits.
About Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual
In the Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual, a natural forest believed to be inhabited by spirits is called “yama,” and the event is held to worship the mountain deity.
The households of Hēsaijima are divided into 4 groups, and each group holds the event in its own “yama.”
It is recorded as an event held every 6 years and recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the way the households of Hēsaijima are divided into 4 groups, each of which worships the mountain deity in “yama,” a natural forest.
Treating the forest believed to be inhabited by spirits as a special place shows a form of worship distinct from that of an everyday forest.
Entry into “yama,” the event’s setting, is prohibited during ordinary times, as is gathering dead branches or cutting branches.
A six-yearly island ritual honoring the mountain deity in a forest protected and passed down by 4 groups
What to expect
For the event, the island’s households are divided into 4 groups, and each group worships the mountain deity in its own “yama.”
“Yama” is a natural forest believed to be inhabited by spirits. It is both the site of the festival and a place protected by special rules.
Entry during ordinary times, gathering dead branches, and cutting branches are all prohibited.
Location and access
- Venue
“Yama” on Hēsaijima
Event venue 山口県下関市 蓋井島のやま
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Every 6 years
- Frequency
Every 6 years
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 Yamaguchi Prefecture / Shimonoseki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In “yama,” the setting for the event, entry during ordinary times, gathering dead branches, and cutting branches are prohibited.
It is important to respect the rules that protect the natural forest as a place of worship.
Nearby attractions
はい!からっと横丁
山口県下関市にある遊園地
下関市立しものせき水族館
山口県下関市にある水族館
下関市立歴史博物館
山口県下関市長府にある博物館
下関市立美術館
山口県下関市長府にある美術館
下関市立考古博物館
山口県下関市にある博物館
下関市立近代先人顕彰館
日本の山口県下関市にある博物館
下関市立長府博物館
山口県下関市長府にあった博物館
写真：Wiki708 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
乃木神社
山口県下関市にある神社
亀山八幡宮
山口県下関市にある神社
大歳神社
山口県下関市にある神社
彦島八幡宮
山口県下関市にある神社
Iminomiya Shrine
山口県下関市にある式内社
Origins and History of Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual
The Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property on March 1, 1959.
In Showa 41, “The Ritual of ‘Yama’” was documented, and in Heisei 14, the Shimonoseki City Board of Education produced “A Record of the Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual.”
The place where the event is held was designated an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property on October 11, 1960 as “The Forest of the Hēsaijima Yama no Kami.”
Official information
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Online provides an overview of the Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual, its designation as a cultural property, and information about records and footage.
Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual at a Glance
The Hēsaijima Yama no Kami Ritual is an event held in a natural forest called “yama,” where people believe the spirits dwell. The island’s households are divided into 4 groups, each of which worships the mountain deity.
It is recorded as an event held every 6 years and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The rules prohibiting entry into “yama” during ordinary times and the cutting of branches have also been passed down alongside the event.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
