Kawasaki’s Hatsu-U-sai: praying for a bountiful harvest with a straw serpent
Eve of Hatsu-U-sai (making the straw serpent shimenawa)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The first day of the hare in early March / Every year
- Location
- Shirahata Hachiman Daijin
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Kawasaki City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Age restrictions
- The horseback archery ritual’s archers are boys under 7 years old
- Required number of participants
- There are 2 archers
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Hatsu-U-sai is held on the first day of the hare in early March at Shirahata Hachiman Daijin in Taira, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City. A Hachiman-ko event in which a large serpent made from straw and local crops is displayed on a gate as people pray for a bountiful harvest.
About Eve of Hatsu-U-sai (making the straw serpent shimenawa)
Hatsu-U-sai is a Hachiman-ko event held on the first day of the hare in early March at Shirahata Hachiman Daijin in Taira, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City.
A large straw serpent is displayed on the torii gate, giving shape to the community’s prayers.
The large serpent is made using burdock roots, carrots, taro, and other items, creating a distinctive form associated with the festival.
Source: 年中行事 - 白幡八幡大神 / 川崎市 : 伝統行事 -宮前区-
Festival highlights
The main highlight is a large straw serpent displayed on the torii gate.
The large serpent is said to be 1 jo long, about 3 meters, with burdock roots for horns, a carrot split in two for its tongue, and taro for its eyes.
A wooden sword is also placed near its tail, allowing visitors to see up close a design made with familiar crops and tools.
Kawasaki’s Hatsu-U-sai: praying for a bountiful harvest with a straw serpent
What to expect
During the event, local groups make a large straw serpent and display it on the torii gate.
In the past, the community was divided into 4 groups to make the large serpent and target, and the “otakamori” offering was also held. Today, the otakamori offering is presented before the deity.
The festival also features a horseback archery ritual, and is passed down as a series of customs for praying for a bountiful harvest.
How to take part
対象年齢：歩射神事の射手は7歳未満の男子
必要人数：射手は2名
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shirahata Hachiman Daijin (Taira, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City).
Event venue 神奈川県川崎市 白幡八幡大神
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
The first day of the hare in early March
- Frequency
Every year
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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Kawasaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
よみうりランド
東京都と神奈川県の境界にある遊園地
日本民家園
日本の神奈川県川崎市の生田緑地公園内にある日本の古民家を展示する屋外博物館
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
Photo source ·Origins and History of Eve of Hatsu-U-sai (making the straw serpent shimenawa)
Hatsu-U-sai is also called Hachiman-ko. Since long ago, it has been held as an event in which local groups make a large serpent and a target.
Records of the duty roster from Kyoho 7, Kyoho 18, Kaei 2, and Meiji 18 remain; the one currently in use dates from Showa 44.
The annual festival was originally held on the first day of the hare in February, but has been held in March since around the middle of the Meiji period.
Official information
The annual events guide for Shirahata Hachiman Daijin provides information about the timing of Hatsu-U-sai and its large serpent, target, archers, and other details.
The shrine’s official website lists Hatsu-U-sai as an annual event held on the first day of the hare in March.
Eve of Hatsu-U-sai (making the straw serpent shimenawa) at a Glance
Hatsu-U-sai is a Hachiman-ko event held on the first day of the hare in early March at Shirahata Hachiman Daijin.
A large serpent woven from straw, about 3 meters long, is fashioned with burdock roots, carrots, and taro, then displayed on a torii gate.
A local festival passed down in Taira, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City, where people pray for a bountiful harvest alongside a horseback archery ritual.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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