A winter water tug-of-war passed down along a Wakasa canal
Hinata Tug-of-War
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The 3rd Sunday of January every year / Every year
- Location
- Mouth of the Hinata River
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Mihama Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 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
- Age restrictions
- It is customary for men who are in an unlucky age that year to take the lead in participating in the tug-of-war in the water.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/20
This traditional midwinter event is held in the canal in Hinata, Mihama Town, where young people pull a giant rope against each other in the water. Its distinctive sequence—from rope-making and prayers for a good catch to cutting the rope in the water—has been passed down through generations.
About Hinata Tug-of-War
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: TR15336300101 File:Water tug of war in Hirugano 03.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: TR15336300101 File:Water tug of war in Hirugano 01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: TR15336300101 File:Water tug of war in Hirugano 02.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Hinata Tug-of-War is a traditional midwinter event passed down in Hinata, Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture.
Villagers pull against each other from the east and west sides of the canal connecting Lake Hinata and Wakasa Bay.
The custom of men in their unlucky years entering the water, cutting the rope, and letting it drift out to sea is said to be intended to ward off misfortune and pray for a good catch.
It has also been designated a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
Source: 文化財詳細 | 福井県文化財ページ / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
Highlights include the giant rope, about 30 centimeters thick and as long as about 40 meters, and the sight of young people diving into the canal.
Wearing colorful headbands and white cloth waist wraps, the young people enter the water from the Bridge and pull the rope against each other from the east and west sides.
The sequence culminates in cutting the rope into sections and letting it drift out to sea—a feature unique to this event.
Source: 日向の水中綱引き - 若狭美浜観光協会
A winter water tug-of-war passed down along a Wakasa canal
What to expect
Rope-making begins early in the morning at Inari Ōkami Shrine. The completed rope is thrown from the bridge into the canal and secured during the morning.
Participants then visit Uhanishi Shrine to pray for a good catch, and in the afternoon, young men from the village dive into the water.
They pull the rope against each other from the east and west sides, and the event ends when the rope breaks.
How to take part
対象年齢：水中の綱引きは、その年の厄年にあたる男たちが率先して参加する慣わし
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around the mouth of the Hinata River / Hinata, Mihama Town
Address Hinata, Mihama Town
Dates and season
- Season
3rd Sunday of January
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 Fukui Prefecture / Mihama Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
The canal where the event takes place connects Lake Hinata and Wakasa Bay.
Lake Hinata is introduced as one of the Five Lakes of Mikata in Mihama Town.
Along with watching the event, you can take in the scenery around the Five Lakes of Mikata, including Lake Hinata.
Source: 美浜町の主な文化財 - 福井県美浜町
若狭国吉城歴史資料館
日本の福井県三方郡美浜町にある博物館
Official information
The Wakasa Mihama Tourism Association’s “Hinata Water Tug-of-War” information provides the 2026 schedule, event program, transportation details, and parking information.
Information about its cultural-property designation and background is also available from Fukui Prefecture and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Hinata Tug-of-War at a Glance
The Hinata Tug-of-War is a midwinter water tug-of-war held in the canal in Hinata, Mihama Town.
Young people pull a rope about 30 centimeters thick and 40 meters long against each other in the water, then cut it and let it drift out to sea.
The 2026 event was announced as scheduled for January 18 (Sunday), and it has also been designated a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/20
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