An early-summer festival passed down in Ama, with mikoshi, horses, and taiko
Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji
The 2026 edition of Iwate-mori Shrine has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/05Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on May 5 / Every year
- Location
- Iwate-mori Shrine
- Area
- Osaka Prefecture・Takatsuki City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
At Iwate-mori Shrine in the Ama district, this mikoshi togyo shinji sees a mikoshi, horses, and visit local . Commonly known as the “Horse Festival,” it has been passed down as an agricultural rite praying for plentiful harvests and the well-being of the villagers.
About Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji
The Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji is a festival handed down in the Ama district, commonly known as the “Horse Festival.”
The deity of the shrine is placed in a mikoshi, which visits local otabisho. A distinctive feature is that children known as noriko ride horses alongside the mikoshi.
As an early-summer agricultural rite, it has been held to pray for plentiful harvests and the well-being of the villagers.
It is held every year on May 5.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the horses and young riders accompanying the mikoshi, the flower mikoshi, and the children’s taiko.
According to a 2023 account, the flower mikoshi carried by children followed the mikoshi bearing the deity, then came the procession of the First and Third Horses and their young riders.
The mikoshi makes its way around the neighborhood, stopping to rest at otabisho, and at times takes a different route from the horse procession.
At the 2023 festival, local people watched the procession wind through the neighborhood streets.
An early-summer festival passed down in Ama, with mikoshi, horses, and taiko
What to expect
During the festival, the mikoshi makes its togyo from Iwate-mori Shrine to local otabisho.
The mikoshi is carried in front of otabisho, and at times is pulled on a cart along the route as it visits areas such as Amanaka and Amanikita.
Ahead of the mikoshi come the children’s taiko, flower mikoshi, horses, and young riders. At the otabisho, the mikoshi and horses rest, and festival participants perform shinji.
The mikoshi and horse procession do not necessarily take the same route.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Iwate-mori Shrine, 5-6 Amaiwatecho, Takatsuki City
- Train and bus
From JR Takatsuki Station, take a Takatsuki City Bus to Ama and walk about 5 minutes / From stop 6 at the south exit of JR Takatsuki Station or stop 6 at Hankyu Takatsuki Station, take route 32 bound for Kami-Nariai or route 33 bound for Kawakubo, get off at Iwateko-mae, and walk about 10 minutes
Address 5-6 Amaiwatecho, Takatsuki City
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the listed dates have passed)
According to the 2026 information, the children’s taiko procession was scheduled for 15:30 on May 4, followed by the grand festival ceremony at 9 and the departure of the mikoshi procession at 10:25 on May 5.
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 Osaka Prefecture / Takatsuki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Seiryū 3-nen no Oka and Ama Miyayama Kofun, the annex of Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University (Historical Archives Museum), and Saigoku Kaidō and Akutagawa-juku.
Origins and History of Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji
Records of the Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji go back to the “Village Horse Register Memorandum” of Jōkyō 2 (1685).
It has been passed down as an early-summer agricultural rite performed by belonging to the miyaza, centered on two groups: Ichinouma-za and Jorō-za (Ninouma-za and Sannouma-za).
Distinctive features include the “Odantsuki Ceremony,” which welcomes the deity’s spirit, and the “Shibaori Ceremony,” a sake-cup ritual held at each otabisho.
On February 21, 2006, it was designated a Takatsuki City intangible folk cultural property.
Official information
The Takatsuki City designated and registered cultural properties list includes the Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji as a city-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Iwate-mori Shrine’s phone number, 072-681-0220, is provided for festival inquiries.
Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji at a Glance
The Iwate-mori Shrine Mikoshi Togyō Shinji is a festival in the Ama district held every year on May 5, also known as the “Horse Festival.”
The mikoshi visits local otabisho, accompanied in the procession by young riders on horseback, a flower mikoshi, children’s taiko, and more.
With records dating back to 1685, it has been passed down as an agricultural rite praying for plentiful harvests and the well-being of the villagers, and is also designated a Takatsuki City intangible folk cultural property.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
