Hirugaya no Ta-asobi

Festival highlights

Highlights include the “four-direction cuts,” in which swords and wooden swords are swung down toward the east, west, north, and south, and a series of performances depicting the stages of rice cultivation.

Hota Kozo, a figure made from bundled cedar leaves, is paraded by young men and finally tied to the trunk of a cherry tree beside the shrine building.

Another distinctive feature is that the performances proceed without musical instruments, using only the performers’ calls, chants, and unique movements.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

Hirugaya no Ta-asobi: depicting a year of rice cultivation through calls and gestures

What to expect

The festival’s rice-field performances begin at dusk, signaled by lighting the okagari, a stack of firewood.

The first half features ceremonial acts such as sword and wooden-sword dances. In the second half, the performances shift to portray farming tasks, including plowing the fields, praising the ox, pounding wheat, planting rice, and harvesting rice.

The sequence ends with Hota Kozo being tied to the trunk of a cherry tree.

How to take part

The festival performances are offered by performers, primarily from the local youth association.

However, it is customary to distribute “kure mochi” to general participants on the day of the mochi-pounding.

Location and access

Venue and address

The venue is Hiru-ko Shrine (1 Hirugaya, Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture).

The festival takes place in the shrine grounds.

By car

It is a 15-minute drive from the Tomei Sagara-Makinohara IC.

Parking

There is no parking.

Source: 蛭ケ谷の田遊び / 静岡県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】

Address 1 Hirugaya, Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture

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Dates and season

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The main offerings take place from dusk until late at night, so be prepared to watch in the shrine grounds after dark.

The performances begin when the firewood is lit, and there is no parking at the venue.

Some acts involve swords and wooden swords, while others feature young men parading Hota Kozo. Please watch quietly from a spot where you will not interfere with the performances.

Nearby attractions

Nearby places in Makinohara City, the same city as the venue, include Saizanji Temple, the Sagara Oil Field well, and Sagara Oil Field Village Park.

Other places mentioned include Oe Hachimangu Shrine, Daikoji Temple, the Makinohara City History Museum, and Katahama Beach.

If you plan to visit alongside the festival, check each facility’s opening status and hours individually.

Origins and History of Hirugaya no Ta-asobi

The origins of Hirugaya no Ta-asobi are uncertain, but the book *Tōtōmi Chishi*, compiled by Toyohira Yamanaka, who died in 1836, records that a rice-planting festival was held on the 13th day of the first lunar month.

There is also a tradition that the rights to perform Ta-asobi were transferred from nearby Saizanji Temple, and a stone pillar bearing a donation inscription dated 1722 has been confirmed.

Until Meiji 5, it was held on day 13 of lunar month 1; from Meiji 6 onward, it has been held every year on February 11.

Official information

You can check the designation details, venue, and public viewing information for Hirugaya no Ta-asobi in the National Cultural Properties Database and Shizuoka Prefecture’s official Shizuoka Cultural Properties Navi.

The preservation group is the Hirugaya Ta-asobi Preservation Society.

Hirugaya no Ta-asobi at a Glance

Hirugaya no Ta-asobi is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property passed down in Hirugaya, Makinohara City, in which the stages of rice cultivation are performed to pray for a good harvest.

The varied performances begin with the lighting of the firewood and continue through the four-direction cuts, plowing, rice planting, harvesting, and the parade of Hota Kozo, with calls and gestures at their heart.

As the offerings take place at night and there is no parking, it is best to plan your journey to the venue and prepare for the viewing conditions before you go.