A nighttime shio-kori passed down in Takayama, between sea and bonfire
Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The eve of the 4th Saturday of October
- Location
- 3 locations on reclaimed land in front of the Akehama Branch Office
- Area
- Ehime Prefecture・Seiyo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 25 min–1 h 45 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Required number of participants
- More than 30
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Shio-kori, passed down against the backdrop of the sea and bonfires, is held on the eve of Kamo Shrine’s autumn grand festival.
About Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori
This is a shio-kori purification ritual held on the eve of Kamo Shrine’s autumn grand festival.
More than 30 young men take part, serving as bearers and guards, and enter the sea to perform .
The event has been passed down in the Takayama district and was designated by Seiyo City in Showa 57May 1.
It is now held on the eve of the 4th Saturday of October.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the shio-kori ritual, set against the night sea and three bonfires.
Beside the bonfires, where firewood is stacked high, young men dive naked into the sea, warm themselves by the fire, then go back into the water, repeating this sequence.
As the bonfires begin to die down, they pull up the ushi-oni, which has been submerged in the sea for a full day and night, bringing the event to a close.
A nighttime shio-kori passed down in Takayama, between sea and bonfire
What to expect
During the event, young men serving as mikoshi bearers and guards repeatedly enter the sea to perform misogi, warming themselves in front of the bonfires between immersions.
The event takes place around three bonfires on reclaimed land in front of the Akehama Branch Office.
As the bonfires begin to die down, they pull up the ushi-oni, which has been submerged in the sea for a full day and night, bringing the shio-kori to a close.
How to take part
必要人数：30数名
Location and access
- Venue and address
3 locations on reclaimed land in front of the Akehama Branch Office (Takayama, Akehama-cho, Seiyo City)
Address Takayama, Akehama-cho, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
The eve of the 4th Saturday of October
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 Ehime Prefecture / Seiyo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
愛媛県歴史文化博物館
愛媛県西予市にある博物館
開明学校
愛媛県西予市宇和町に建てられた、四国最古の小学校
Origins and History of Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori
The shio-kori held on the eve of Kamo Shrine’s autumn grand festival is an event that has been passed down from long ago to the present.
The Takayama district is the group that preserves it, and it was designated by the city in Showa 57May 1.
The detailed history of the ritual’s origins and development has not been explained.
Official information
Seiyo City: “City Designation: Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori”
Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori at a Glance
Kamo Shrine Eve-of-Festival Shio-kori is a misogi ritual passed down in the Takayama district and held on the eve of Kamo Shrine’s autumn grand festival.
Bonfires are lit on reclaimed land in front of the Akehama Branch Office, and young men serving as mikoshi bearers and guards enter the sea to perform misogi.
This nighttime shio-kori ends with the ushi-oni being pulled up as the bonfires begin to die down.
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
