A festival of towers that carry Tsushima’s prayers into the present, built from stones gathered on the shore
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on the first Day of the Horse in lunar calendar: June / Every year
- Location
- The coasts of Kisaka and Omi (Gozenhama in Kisaka and Shita-no-hama in Omi)
- Area
- Nagasaki Prefecture・Tsushima City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 20 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi is a traditional Tsushima event in which a stone tower is built on the shore, and prayers are offered with and offerings. It conveys Tendo worship and local life in the settlements of Kisaka and Omi.
About Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi is an intangible folk cultural property passed down in Kisaka and Omi, Mine Town, Tsushima City.
A conical stone tower, the “Yakuma tower,” is built on the shore, topped with gohei, and accompanied by offerings and prayers.
This event, rooted in Tendo worship, expresses wishes for children to grow up safely, the safety of the household, and a good harvest.
This festival is still passed down in Tsushima today and conveys the area’s beliefs and way of life.
Source: 長崎県の文化財 / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The highlight is the distinctive Yakuma towers, built by piling stones on the shore.
In Kisaka, 1 tower about 2 meters in diameter and about 2.5 meters high is built; in Omi, 2 towers about 1 meter high are made.
Once completed, gohei are placed near the top, offerings are presented, and everyone prays together.
The conical stone towers on the shore and the process of building them collaboratively with people from the settlements are distinctive features of this event.
A festival of towers that carry Tsushima’s prayers into the present, built from stones gathered on the shore
What to expect
In Kisaka, while the man on duty visits Tendosha Shrine, men gathered from each household stack stones on the shore.
Once the tower is complete, gohei are placed near the top, offerings such as sake and sweets are presented, and everyone prays together. The offerings are then shared, and the event concludes.
In Omi, people first visit Tendochi, then prepare gohei and offerings for the coastal tower as well.
The division of roles and collaborative work within the community are built into the event’s proceedings.
How to take part
The event is mainly carried out by men who gather from households in Kisaka and Omi.
They are responsible for stacking stones to build the tower, preparing gohei and offerings, and praying once it is complete.
Women are said to be unable to participate because Tendo-sama is said to dislike women.
Because the event is governed by rules based on local beliefs, it is not an event where members of the general public can join in the work.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The coast at Kisaka and Omi.
Gozenhama is described as the event site in Kisaka, and Shita-no-hama as the site in Omi.
It is located in Kisaka and Omi, Mine Town, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
- By car
Kisaka Gozenhama Park is about 1 hour and 14 minutes by car from Tsushima Airport.
Source: 木坂御前浜園地 | 観光スポット | 【公式】長崎観光/旅行ポータルサイト ながさき旅ネット
Address Kisaka and Omi, Mine Town, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on the first Day of the Horse in lunar calendar: June
- 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 Nagasaki Prefecture / Tsushima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi is an event passed down through local beliefs and collaborative work within the settlements.
As women are said to be unable to participate in the event, it is important to respect local rules when visiting and observe without interfering with the work or prayers.
As this event involves stacking stones on the shore, watch your footing and be mindful of the movements of people around you.
Nearby attractions
At Kisaka Gozenhama Park, several Yakuma towers stand along the coast, and a mo koya is on display in the park.
A mo koya is a stone-built hut where seaweed washed ashore was dried and stored for use as fertilizer in fields.
Visiting the Yakuma towers as well offers a glimpse of the coastal landscape associated with life and beliefs in Tsushima.
Nearby places also featured include Watatsumi Shrine, the Kisaka Viewpoint, and Omi no Sato.
上対馬町歴史民俗資料室
長崎県対馬市にある博物館
対馬博物館
長崎県対馬市にある博物館
対馬野生生物保護センター
長崎県の動物園・水族館のスポットです。
峰町歴史民俗資料館
長崎県対馬市にある博物館
豊玉町郷土館
長崎県対馬市にある博物館
長崎県立対馬歴史民俗資料館
長崎県対馬市にあった博物館
Origins and History of Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi
Yakuma was an event held on the first Day of the Horse in lunar calendar: June, once passed down throughout Tsushima.
One form involves placing gohei at the base of a large tree or beside a huge coastal rock, offering gifts, and praying; a connection with Tendo worship has also been passed down.
In Kisaka and Omi, the tradition has been maintained by building conical towers from stacked stones.
The nature of the event has changed due to declining birthrates, depopulation, and the decline of wheat farming. Today, it is a valuable custom passed down in both communities.
Official information
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi is featured in Nagasaki Prefecture’s cultural property database and the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties, etc.
It was selected as an intangible folk cultural property on March 8, 2012.
The preservation groups are the Kisaka District and Omi District.
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi at a Glance
Yakuma in Kisaka and Omi is a traditional event based on Tendo worship that has been preserved in Kisaka and Omi, Mine Town, Tsushima City.
Stones are piled on the shore to build Yakuma towers, and gohei and offerings are presented as people pray for children’s growth, household safety, and a good harvest.
Men from the settlements work together to carry out the event, and women are said not to be allowed to participate.
旧暦6月の初午の日に行われます。
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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