A shrine festival in Tochihara, where hopes for a good harvest are entrusted to archery and the Naematsu ceremony
Kawazoe Shrine Gomikake Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Sunday near February 19
- Location
- Kawazoe Shrine
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Odai Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This festival features offering dances, archery, and the Naematsu ceremony at Kawazoe Shrine in Tochihara, Odai Town. Prayers for a good harvest are entrusted to where the arrows land, and local people take part in the event involving noshi paper displayed on a pine tree.
About Kawazoe Shrine Gomikake Festival
The Kawazoe Shrine Gomikake Festival is held at Kawazoe Shrine in Tochihara, Odai Town, Mie Prefecture.
The attend with the person on duty at the center, and offer dances such as “Urayasu no Mai” and “Otome no Mai” before the deity.
The event also includes archery and the Naematsu ceremony, with local people supporting the shrine festival.
Source: 祭・イベント詳細： 川添神社ごみかけ祭り｜（一財）都市農山漁村交流活性化機構（まちむら交流きこう） / 川添神社ごみかけ祭り（２） | 写真ギャラリー | 観光三重(かんこうみえ) | 三重県の観光・旅行情報公式サイト
Festival highlights
Highlights include the archery, in which the person on duty shoots arrows, and the Naematsu ceremony, which uses a large pine tree.
During the archery, the person on duty shoots 3 arrows. It is said that if they hit the target well, the year will bring a good harvest.
During the Naematsu ceremony, people compete to take strips of noshi paper displayed at the top of the pine tree, and the whole community joins in, creating a lively scene.
A shrine festival in Tochihara, where hopes for a good harvest are entrusted to archery and the Naematsu ceremony
What to expect
At the festival, the ujiko gather in front of the shrine’s , led by the person on duty.
They proceed to the front of the deity in this order: the leader, musicians, group leader, person on duty, dango, kame, , , and shrine maidens. They offer dances such as “Urayasu no Mai” and “Otome no Mai.”
After that, events such as archery, Manzairaku, and the Naematsu ceremony take place.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kawazoe Shrine, Tochihara, Odai Town, Taki District, Mie Prefecture
- Train and bus
3 minutes’ walk from Tochihara Station on the JR Kisei Main Line
- By car
5 minutes by car from the Seiwa-Taki Interchange on the Ise Expressway
- Parking
None
Address Tochihara, Odai Town, Taki District, Mie Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Sunday near February 19
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 Mie Prefecture / Odai Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Kawazoe Shrine Gomikake Festival at a Glance
The Kawazoe Shrine Gomikake Festival is a traditional event held at Kawazoe Shrine in Tochihara, Odai Town.
After offerings by the ujiko, 3 rounds of archery, Manzairaku, and the Naematsu ceremony follow.
The archery is considered a sign of a good harvest, while during the Naematsu ceremony, local residents compete to take strips of noshi paper displayed on a pine tree.
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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