An autumn harvest thanksgiving in Yasu, shared through zuiki mikoshi and the traditions of the miyaza
Mikami Zuiki Festival
The 2026 edition of Mikami Zuiki Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/12Ended
- Season / frequency
- Mid-October, usually the February weekday of October / Every year
- Location
- Mikami Shrine
- Area
- Shiga Prefecture・Yasu City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 20 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Mikami Zuiki Festival, a celebration of gratitude for the autumn harvest, is held at Mikami Shrine in the Mikami area of Yasu. The festival features the offering of zuiki made from taro stalks and the performance of various ceremonies handed down through the miyaza groups. The Shibahara ceremony is also held in the evening, offering a chance to see traditional rites passed down in the region.
About Mikami Zuiki Festival
The Mikami Zuiki Festival is the autumn festival of Mikami Shrine, the local tutelary shrine of the Mikami area in Yasu City, and an occasion to give thanks for the autumn harvest.
The three miyaza groups—Naganoya, Higashi, and Nishi—organize the festival. Events include the amazake ritual, the yutate ceremony, the offering of zuiki mikoshi, and the Shibahara ceremony.
A distinctive feature of this festival is the offering of zuiki mikoshi made from taro stalks as sacred food.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the five zuiki mikoshi made from taro stalks grown specifically for the festival.
The mikoshi are decorated with millet, sesame, chestnuts, persimmons, and other items, then offered at Mikami Shrine once complete.
During the evening Shibahara ceremony, a procession carrying lanterns heads to the gathering place. This traditional ceremony includes a Sarutahiko mask, halberds, hanabiramochi, and children’s sumo.
An autumn harvest thanksgiving in Yasu, shared through zuiki mikoshi and the traditions of the miyaza
What to expect
The proceedings begin with the amazake ritual and the yutate ceremony. Zuiki is harvested two days before the festival, and the mikoshi is made the day before.
On the day, the zuiki mikoshi is brought from the Tōnin’s home to Mikami Shrine in the morning as an offering. After the sacred rites, the Shibahara ceremony takes place in the evening.
The Shibahara ceremony includes a lantern procession, the exchange of written records, the distribution of hanabiramochi, and a communal meal, and concludes with children’s sumo.
How to take part
The central rites of the festival are performed by the headmen belonging to the three miyaza.
General visitors can observe the taro-stalk harvesting, the making of the zuiki mikoshi, and the offerings on the festival day.
However, the amazake ritual, the yudate ceremony, and the head handover take place inside homes or within the , so they cannot be observed by visitors.
General visitors can watch the offering of zuiki mikoshi at Mikami Shrine and see how the mikoshi is made.
Before the festival, zuiki is harvested and the mikoshi is made. On the day, five zuiki mikoshi are offered at the shrine in the morning.
The evening Shibahara ceremony and individual sacred rites are mainly for those involved, so follow local guidance regarding access and participation.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Mikami Shrine (838 Mikami, Yasu City)
- Train and bus
Get off at Yasu Station on the JR Biwako Line, then take a bus for about 10 minutes.
It is about a 3-minute walk from the Mikami Shrine-mae bus stop.
- Parking
20 standard cars and 5 large vehicles.
Source: ずいき祭 | 滋賀県観光情報［公式観光サイト］滋賀・びわ湖のすべてがわかる！
Address 838 Mikami, Yasu, Shiga Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 festival information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, the festival was announced as scheduled to be held at Mikami Shrine on October 12.
The festival day is set as the February weekday of October each year, when the zuiki mikoshi is offered and sacred rites are held.
Related events, including harvesting zuiki and making the mikoshi, take place in stages in the days before the festival day.
Source: 三上のずいき祭り ｜ 野洲市観光物産協会 - 野洲観光なび
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 Shiga Prefecture / Yasu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The parts open to general visitors include harvesting zuiki, making the mikoshi, and the offerings on the festival day.
The amazake ritual, yutate ceremony, and head handover take place in non-public areas, so please do not enter unless you are involved.
The evening Shibahara ceremony includes a lantern procession and a sumo rite, so please watch quietly without disrupting proceedings.
Nearby attractions
Mikami Shrine
滋賀県野洲市三上にある神社
野洲市歴史民俗博物館
滋賀県野洲市にある博物館
Origins and History of Mikami Zuiki Festival
The Mikami Zuiki Festival is said to have originated as a festival of Wakamiya Shrine, enshrined as a subsidiary shrine of Mikami Shrine. In historical records, it appears as the “Wakamiya-dono Sumo Sacred Rite.”
The festival has long also been called a “” in the area, and its rituals have been carried out by three miyaza groups.
At a 2017 press conference, the prefectural governor introduced it as an event with a history and tradition spanning more than 470 years.
Source: 知事定例記者会見（2017年9月19日）｜滋賀県
Official information
The Mikami Zuiki Festival is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Cultural property information describes it as a custom related to festivals and faith, with the Zuiki Festival Preservation Society listed as the preservation organization.
For the venue, 2026 dates, and transport information, see the event page on the Shiga Prefecture tourism website.
Mikami Zuiki Festival at a Glance
The Mikami Zuiki Festival is a harvest thanksgiving festival handed down in the Mikami area of Yasu City.
The major highlights are five zuiki mikoshi made from taro stalks, various events organized by the miyaza groups, and the evening Shibahara ceremony held by lantern light.
In 2026, the festival will be held at Mikami Shrine on October 12. General visitors can watch zuiki being harvested, the mikoshi being made, and events on the festival day.
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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