A folk event in Ichinomiya where a grass horse travels through the community, carrying wishes to the river
Suiho Shibama Festival
The 2026 edition of Suiho Shibama Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/05Ended
- Season / frequency
- The first Saturday of September / Every year
- Location
- Hakusan Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Ichinomiya City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This folk event, passed down in the Suiho district, features children pulling a shibama made from cogon grass and wisteria vines through the community before sending it off into the river.
About Suiho Shibama Festival
The Suiho Shibama Festival is a folk event passed down around Hakusan Shrine in Asano, Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture.
A shibama is made from cogon grass, wisteria vines, corn, and other materials, then children pull it through the community.
At the end, the shibama is sent down the river with prayers for household safety, good health, and protection from misfortune.
It is also designated as a National Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property and an Aichi Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the distinctive figure of a horse made from grass, wisteria vines, and crops from the fields.
Cogon grass is used to form the head and body, with eggplants, chili peppers, corn, and other items used for the eyes and decorations.
Many ropes are attached to the completed shibama, and children pull it through the neighborhood while calling out.
The moment when the shibama is lifted and sent off into the river at the end of the procession is another memorable part of the festival.
Source: 観光案内 芝馬祭｜一宮市
A folk event in Ichinomiya where a grass horse travels through the community, carrying wishes to the river
What to expect
The festival begins with cogon grass being bundled and bound with wisteria vines to form the shibama’s head and body.
Vegetable and corn decorations, legs, a tail, and ropes for pulling are attached, then worship and a are held at the shrine.
Afterward, an older child leads the procession as the other children pull the ropes and visit Shokoji Temple and homes throughout the community.
After the procession, the shibama is sent down the river near a bridge over the Suiho River.
How to take part
The festival is led by the children’s group from Suibo and elementary school boys.
During the shiba-uma procession, older children steer while the other children hold the ropes used to pull it.
General visitors can watch from the roadside as part of a local community event.
It is important to follow the organizers’ guidance and watch quietly without obstructing the procession or the children’s route.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hakusan Shrine (16 Hakusan, Asano, Ichinomiya City).
The festival is centered around Hakusan Shrine.
- Train and bus
Take a bus bound for Iwakura from JR Owari-Ichinomiya Station or Meitetsu Ichinomiya Station, get off at Suiho bus stop, and walk about 5 minutes.
Source: 2025年8月20日報道発表 県指定文化財「水法の芝馬祭」開催のお知らせ｜一宮市 / 水法の芝馬祭 | 愛知県 | 日本の文化遺産を探す｜国宝・重要文化財データベース
Address 16 Hakusan, Asano, Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival was held on September 5 (Saturday). The schedule listed preparations at the venue and shibama-making from 8 a.m., worship from 1 p.m., a Shinto ritual from 2 p.m., and the shibama procession from 2:30 p.m.
Times may vary.
The festival is usually held on the first Saturday of September. On the festival day, the shibama is taken through the community after preparations and a Shinto ritual at Hakusan Shrine.
Source: Festivals · Event information
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 Aichi Prefecture / Ichinomiya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Please watch from the side of the road used by the shibama and children, and keep the procession’s route clear.
The festival visits not only Hakusan Shrine but also Shokoji Temple and homes throughout the community, so please take care not to disrupt local residents when following the procession.
When the shibama is sent off into the river, do not get too close to the bridge or water’s edge, and follow the instructions of the festival stewards.
The schedule and route may change.
Nearby attractions
Hakusan Shrine, the festival venue, is in Asano, Ichinomiya City.
In Ichinomiya City, suggested sights include Masumida Shrine, named for the Ichinomiya shrine of Owari Province, and the Ichinomiya City Museum, next to Myokoji Temple.
Masumida Shrine is presented as a place to walk around the grounds, while the Ichinomiya City Museum is described as a facility covering local history and the textile industry.
Places to visit alongside the festival for an introduction to the city’s culture and history.
一宮市尾西歴史民俗資料館
愛知県一宮市の歴史資料館
一宮市木曽川資料館
愛知県一宮市にある博物館
真清田神社
愛知県一宮市にある名神大社
Origins and History of Suiho Shibama Festival
The origins of the Shibama Festival are said to be linked to the Mongol invasions in the middle of the Kamakura period.
It is said to have begun when people welcomed the gods who saved the country during the crisis of Koan 4 (1281) and made a sacred horse from grass, likening it to the military achievements of warhorses.
This origin is told as a tradition. The festival was moved from the Hassenku observance on day 1 of lunar month 8 to the first Saturday of September in 2018.
It was designated as a National Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1980 and as an Aichi Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1984.
Official information
The official website of the Suiho Shibama Festival Preservation Association is listed as an official source.
The venue and 2026 dates can also be confirmed through information from Ichinomiya City.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of National Cultural Properties also lists the festival’s cultural-property designation and details of the event.
Suiho Shibama Festival at a Glance
The Suiho Shibama Festival is a folk event in Asano, Ichinomiya City, where children lead a grass horse from Hakusan Shrine through the community before sending it off into the river.
Highlights include the shibama figures made from cogon grass, wisteria vines, and vegetables, and the procession of children through the area.
The festival carries wishes for household safety, good health, and protection from misfortune, and is designated as a National Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property and an Aichi Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
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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