A distinctive reisai in Wakasa, where a gohei is pounded as part of a tradition passed down at the guardian shrine
Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on April 5 / Every year
- Location
- Shikimi
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Wakasa Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 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.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This is a ritual passed down at Kurami Shrine in Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture. After the procession, Ō-no-mai, and , the Ōgohei-tsuki is performed, slamming a made from fresh pine wood against the ground.
About Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual
The Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual is a reisai that has been passed down at Shikimi Jinja in Wakasa Town.
The jinja, said to have served as the guardian shrine of Kurami-no-sho, stands at the foot of Mount Sanjūsangen. It enshrines Sahono-ōkurato-me-no-Mikoto, said to be the mother of Prince Murahiko, and Sugawara no Michizane.
The reisai rituals were designated a prefectural intangible folk cultural property in Showa 37, preserving the region's festival traditions.
Source: 闇見神社例祭神事[県指定]／若狭町
Festival highlights
A highlight of the reisai is the ritual known as O-gohei-tsuki.
A gohei made from fresh pine wood measuring 6 shaku long and 4 sun square is bound with a thick rope, then struck forcefully against the ground as it is carried toward the jinja.
This distinctive ritual, in which the gohei is pounded until it is reduced to splinters, is a major feature of the festival tradition preserved as a prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.
A distinctive reisai in Wakasa, where a gohei is pounded as part of a tradition passed down at the guardian shrine
What to expect
On the day before the reisai, the toya hosts various rituals, including cutting the gohei paper, prayers, and final preparations for the O no Mai.
On the day itself, after the village departure ceremony at the toya, the procession is formed with the disaster-purification gohei at its head and sets off for the jinja.
After the ceremony to hand over responsibility for the toya at the plaza by the entrance, the O no Mai, shishimai, O-gohei-tsuki, , and other events follow.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shikimi Jinja.
It stands at the foot of Mount Sanjūsangen.
Event venue 福井県若狭町 闇見神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on April 5
- 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 Fukui Prefecture / Wakasa Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
福井県年縞博物館
福井県若狭町にある地誌学の博物館
若狭三方縄文博物館
福井県若狭町にある博物館
Origins and History of Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual
Shikimi Jinja is an ancient shrine said to have served as the guardian shrine of Kurami-no-sho.
In the past, the miya-za organization administered the reisai rituals. Today, they are conducted under a toya system based on regulations revised in Meiji 37.
The toya role rotates among districts. Kurami and Shiraya take it once every 3 years, while Iwaya, Joganji, and Ueno take it once every 7 years.
Official information
The Wakasa Town official website provides information about the festival, the toya system, and its designation as a prefectural intangible folk cultural property under “Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual [Prefectural Designation].”
The Wakasa Town History and Culture Division is listed as the contact.
Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual at a Glance
The Shikimi Jinja Reisai Ritual is an intangible folk cultural property designated by the prefecture and carried on at Shikimi Jinja in Wakasa Town.
In addition to the procession, O no Mai, shishimai, and mikoshi togyo, a major feature is O-gohei-tsuki, in which a gohei made from fresh pine wood is struck against the ground.
The reisai is held every April 5, but details of the 2026 event and conditions for visitors need to be confirmed.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
