A ritual to ward off misfortune, with visiting deities covered in mud and vines traveling around Shimoji village
Paantu of Miyako Island (Shimoji)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- At the beginning of lunar calendar: September (the 3rd event, when masked Paantu appear) / 3 times a year (Paantu appear at the 3rd event)
- Location
- Shimoji village, Hirara area, Miyakojima City
- Area
- Okinawa Prefecture・Miyakojima City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Paantu, passed down in Shimoji in the Hirara area of Miyakojima City, is a traditional event in which masked visiting deities covered in mud and vines travel around the village to ward off misfortune. The official date and time for 2026 are currently being confirmed.
About Paantu of Miyako Island (Shimoji)
This is a ritual to ward off misfortune performed by the visiting deity Paantu, passed down in Shimoji in the Hirara area of Miyakojima City.
The word Paantu refers to a monster or apparition, but in the ritual Paantu appears as a deity who wards off misfortune and brings blessings for an abundant harvest.
It is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and was also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018.
It has been passed down as a tradition distinct from Satiparai in Nohara, Ueno area.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the appearance of 3 visiting deities wearing masks, covered in vines of shiinoki kazura and smeared with mud.
After 5 female ritual figures pray at a sacred site, Paantu enter the village to ward off misfortune.
They travel close to people and homes, and getting muddy is also an important part of the event.
It is important to understand this not as a performance for tourists, but as a local prayer.
Source: 島尻のパーントゥ | たのしま
A ritual to ward off misfortune, with visiting deities covered in mud and vines traveling around Shimoji village
What to expect
In Shimoji, Satupunaha, a rite known as a village prayer, is held 3 times a year. Masked Paantu appear at the 3rd event.
After prayers at a sacred site, Paantu travel around the village covered in vines and mud.
As they ward off misfortune by smearing mud on people along the route and on houses, your clothes and belongings may also get muddy if you watch nearby.
This is an event to experience while respecting local customs and without obstructing the progress of the ritual.
How to take part
Visitors can also take part in the event, but unlike a typical hands-on activity, participants do not decide how it proceeds.
Pan̄tū is a visiting deity responsible for driving away misfortune in the community, and visitors must understand the meaning of the ritual before entering the village.
As you may be smeared with mud, consider the potential impact on your clothes and belongings when deciding whether to participate.
You are expected to prioritize the local people and the flow of the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shimoji village in the Hirara area of Miyakojima City.
Please do not obstruct movement through the village or the progress of the ritual.
Source: 文化 Culture｜行政情報｜宮古島市
Event venue 沖縄県宮古島市 宮古島市平良地区
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
Satupunaha in Shimoji is held 3 times a year: from the end of lunar calendar: March to the beginning of April, from the end of lunar calendar: May to the beginning of June, and at the beginning of lunar calendar: September.
Masked Paantu appear at the 3rd event.
Do not finalize your travel dates based only on the lunar calendar period; check the information for that year before making plans.
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 Okinawa Prefecture / Miyakojima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
When Paantu approach, mud may get on not only your clothes but also your shoes, smartphone, camera, and bag.
Prepare by wearing clothes that can get dirty and leaving behind valuables and anything you do not want to get muddy.
Do not block their route for photography or enter homes or onto rooftops; prioritize village life and the flow of the ritual.
If visiting with children, consider your distance and movements so they do not get startled and run off.
Nearby attractions
うえのドイツ文化村
沖縄県宮古島市上野にあるテーマパーク
写真：Uzumaki~jawiki at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
宮古島市熱帯植物園
沖縄県宮古島市にある植物園
宮古島市総合博物館
沖縄県宮古島市にある博物館
Origins and History of Paantu of Miyako Island (Shimoji)
Shimoji Paantu is a visiting-deity ritual passed down in Shimoji, Hirara area, Miyakojima City.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Database records it as an event in which strange deities wearing masks and covered in grass travel through villages to ward off calamities.
1993年に「宮古島のパーントゥ」として重要無形民俗文化財に指定され、2018年には「来訪神：仮面・仮装の神々」の一つとしてユネスコ無形文化遺産に記載されました。
Source: 文化遺産データベース
Official information
Miyakojima City provides information on Shimoji Paantu, its 3 annual rituals, and the visiting deities under the title “Nationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property: Paantu of Miyako Island (Shimoji).”
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Database also provides details such as the designation date, public viewing period, and event overview.
Please check for the date and time, traffic restrictions, and other details once local information for that year has been issued.
Paantu of Miyako Island (Shimoji) at a Glance
Shimoji Paantu is a traditional ritual in which 3 visiting deities covered in mud and vines travel around the village to ward off misfortune.
Of the 3 annual Satupunaha events, masked Paantu appear at the 3rd event, at the beginning of lunar calendar: September.
Please understand that you may get muddy, and observe while respecting local life and the progress of the ritual.
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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