A Little New Year ritual in which people visit homes with straw horses and calls, passing on their hopes
Toitoi of Jifuku
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on January 14 (at night) / Every year
- Location
- A settlement in the Jifuku area of Ato
- Area
- Yamaguchi Prefecture・Yamaguchi 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Toitoi of Jifuku, passed down in the Jifuku area of Ato, Yamaguchi City, is a Little New Year ritual in which children visit homes carrying straw horses. Through calls and the exchange of offerings, people pray for household safety, good health, and bountiful harvests.
About Toitoi of Jifuku
Toitoi of Jifuku is a Little New Year visiting ritual passed down in the Jifuku area of Ato, Yamaguchi City.
On the night of January 14, children visit homes throughout the settlement one by one and exchange straw horses (wara-uma) for offerings such as rice cakes and sweets.
The ritual, in which people pray for household safety, good health, and bountiful harvests, has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the moment when children place a straw horse in a basket by the entrance of a home, shout “Toi, tōi!” loudly, and then hide behind something.
When a resident receives a straw horse, they put rice cakes, sweets, or other items in a basket in exchange.
The children take the offerings without being seen by the residents.
Sometimes the residents try to splash the children with water.
A Little New Year ritual in which people visit homes with straw horses and calls, passing on their hopes
What to expect
During the ritual, children visit homes throughout the settlement in turn and exchange straw horses for offerings.
At each home, the children call out and hide. After the resident completes the exchange, the children take the offerings and leave.
As part of efforts to pass on the tradition, the straw used for the straw horses is grown from the rice-planting stage, and activities also foster interaction between generations through straw-making.
Location and access
- Venue and address
A settlement in the Jifuku area of Ato (the homes)
Address Jifuku area, Ato region
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on January 14 (at night)
- 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 Yamaguchi Prefecture / Yamaguchi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Sometimes the residents try to splash the children with water during this ritual.
It is important to respectfully observe the actions performed at the homes and the local customs.
Nearby attractions
中原中也記念館
山口県山口市にある博物館
亀山公園
山口県山口市にある都市公園
山口大神宮
山口市にある神社
山口情報芸術センター
山口県山口市にある複合施設
山口県埋蔵文化財センター
山口県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
山口県政資料館
山口県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：Bakkai at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
山口県立山口博物館
山口県山口市にある総合博物館
山口県立美術館
山口県山口市にある美術館
常栄寺雪舟庭
山口県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
重源の郷
山口県山口市にある体験交流公園
Origins and History of Toitoi of Jifuku
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ records introduce Toitoi of Jifuku as a Little New Year visiting ritual. It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on March 8, 2012.
Yamaguchi City’s community exchange programs are fostering interaction between communities and generations, using the passing on of traditions as a starting point.
Efforts to carry the ritual forward to the next generation include growing the straw for the straw horses from the rice-planting stage.
Official information
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Online introduces Toitoi of Jifuku as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The preservation group is the Jifuku Toitoi Preservation Association.
Toitoi of Jifuku at a Glance
On the night of January 14, children visit homes throughout the settlement and exchange straw horses for offerings as part of the Little New Year ritual of Toitoi of Jifuku.
The distinctive actions of calling out, hiding, and taking the offerings have been passed down through generations.
This Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property involves prayers for household safety, good health, and bountiful harvests, and also fosters interaction between generations through straw-making.
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
