A winter contest that brings together Kariwano's skills and hopes around an enormous rope dividing the town in two
Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War
The 2026 edition of Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/10Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually, on the night of day 15 of lunar month 1 / Every year
- Location
- Kariwano Omachi Street
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Daisen City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 40 min–4 h 10 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
In Kariwano, Daisen City, Kami-machi and Shimo-machi join enormous male and female ropes and compete in this traditional tug-of-war. This event lets you experience the skills and hopes passed down by local people, from rope-making to the main tug-of-war.
About Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 掬茶 File:Storehouse of straw rope beside the Kariwano Station.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War is a tug-of-war event passed down in Kariwano, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, in which the town is divided into two sides.
Kami-machi makes the male rope and Shimo-machi makes the female rope; the two are joined and the sides compete in strength.
It has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and the completed rope is finally dedicated to Ukishima Shrine.
This is a traditional event representative of Kariwano, supported by local people from rope-making through the main event.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the moment when thousands of people pull against each other at once after the male and female ropes are joined.
The male rope is 64 meters long and the female rope is about 50 meters long; each weighs as much as 10 tons.
Before the main event, young people take part in a pushing contest, while lantern signals and calls heighten the tension.
The fact that this one-time contest can last for a long time is part of what makes the event so powerful.
A winter contest that brings together Kariwano's skills and hopes around an enormous rope dividing the town in two
What to expect
In preparation for the event, local people gather fresh straw and make the giant rope through straw beating and gumi-kumi rope-braiding.
On the day, prayers, a procession, rope-stretching, and the attachment of smaller ropes take place, followed at night by drumming, a pushing contest, and the bringing out of the ropes.
Once the male and female ropes have been joined, the tug-of-war begins at a signal.
Afterward, the rope is untwisted and dedicated to Ukishima Shrine.
How to take part
Participation in the tug-of-war is described as open to everyone, and general visitors can join in pulling the rope.
However, the people pulling the rope may spread across the entire road during the tug-of-war, so spectators should pay attention to the rope's movement and to instructions from people nearby.
No age requirements or advance application details for participants are provided.
Location and access
- Venue and address
It is held on Kariwano Omachi Street (near 190-1 Kariwano, Daisen City).
- Train and bus
It is about a 10-minute walk from JR Kariwano Station.
- By car
It is about 10 minutes from the Nishisenboku Smart IC on the Akita Expressway.
Traffic restrictions were in place in some areas from noon on February 10, 2026 until 2 a.m. on February 11.
Address Near 190-1 Kariwano, Daisen City
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, it was held on February 10 (Tuesday).
Prayers, a procession, taiko drumming, mochi-throwing, and rope-stretching took place in the afternoon. At night, the schedule was to proceed through a pushing contest, fireworks, and the joining of the ropes, with the tug-of-war set to begin at 21:00.
The Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War is usually held on the night of day 15 of lunar month 1.
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 Akita Prefecture / Daisen City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue is described as very slippery, so watch your footing as you walk.
During the tug-of-war, the people pulling the rope may spread across the entire road, so spectators need to watch from a place away from the rope, such as the roadside.
In 2026, traffic restrictions were in place in some areas from noon until 2 a.m. the following day.
Nearby attractions
Near the venue, you can visit the Kariwano Giant Rope Exhibition Hall in front of JR Kariwano Station.
The exhibition hall displays a life-size replica of the rope used in the Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War.
The facility is located at 106-5 Atagoshita, Kariwano, Daisen City, next to JR Kariwano Station.
Visits require advance reservations, and the facility is open to visitors on the 10th of each month.
Source: 刈和野大綱展示場 - 観光施設 | 大仙市
秋田県立農業科学館
秋田県大仙市にある博物館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
払田柵跡
秋田県大仙市・美郷町にある古代城柵遺跡
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War
The Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War is said to have continued for more than 500 years, since the Muromachi period.
Tug-of-war originally arose from common people's faith, and people have long invested their hopes for their livelihoods and daily lives in it.
In Kariwano, the tradition continues of Kami-machi and Shimo-machi each making one of the male and female ropes, joining them at the town boundary, and pulling against each other.
It is also said to be a form of divination for the year: a win by Kami-machi means rice prices will rise, while a win by Shimo-machi means a good harvest.
Official information
Daisen City's official information gives the 2026 event date, venue, schedule, traffic restrictions, and access details.
Information about its designation as a cultural property and a detailed explanation of the event can be found in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.
Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War at a Glance
The Kariwano Giant Tug-of-War is a traditional event in which Kami-machi and Shimo-machi join enormous male and female ropes and compete in strength with the whole town taking part.
From rope-making, prayers, and the pushing contest to the tug-of-war signaled by lanterns, local skills and beliefs are woven throughout the sequence of events.
The contest is said to be linked to a good harvest and the price of rice, and it has been designated an Important 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: 2026/10/19
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