A spectacular festival passed down in Nishio, where young people and horses race around a circular track
Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine
The 2026 edition of Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/18Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, the 3rd Sunday of October / Every year
- Location
- Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Nishio 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.
- Features
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine is a festival in Nishio City where young people leap onto horses running around a circular track and race alongside them. The Shonenba event, in which elementary school students ride ponies, and the Outstanding Horse event at the end of the festival are also held.
About Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine
The Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine is an equestrian event offered as part of the shrine’s festival.
Young people leap onto horses running around the circular track and race alongside them.
It is said to have originated as a coming-of-age ceremony for boys, and is also known as “Zuriuma.”
Festival highlights
The highlight is the sight of young people in coats and jika-tabi leaping onto horses and racing around a circular track measuring about 100 meters per lap.
The Shonenba event, in which elementary school students ride ponies, takes place twice—once in the morning and once in the afternoon—and local children can be seen taking part.
At the end of the festival, the Outstanding Horse event selects 3–5 excellent horses, which young men race alongside.
A spectacular festival passed down in Nishio, where young people and horses race around a circular track
What to expect
At the festival, horses run around a circular track set up in the , while young people leap onto the horses and race alongside them.
The Shonenba event, in which local elementary school students run alongside ponies, takes place in the morning and afternoon.
Toward the end, the Outstanding Horse event brings the festival to a close with young men racing alongside the selected horses.
In the past, there were also processions of horses carrying lanterns, charaboko floats, , and saddles with bells.
How to take part
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine, 33 Miyamae, Nakabatacho, Nishio City
- Train and bus
Take the Meitetsu Line from “Nagoya” Station to “Nishio” Station / Take the Meitetsu Tobu Kotsu Bus Nakabata Loop Line to “Nakabata,” then walk 3 minutes
Address 33 Miyamae, Nakabatacho, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
2026年10月18日（日）10:00〜（予定）
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 / Nishio City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Visitors are advised to use public transportation to reach the venue.
The nearest stop is “Nakabata” on the Meitetsu Tobu Kotsu Bus or Rokumangoku Kururin Bus.
As horses run at this event, please follow the instructions at the venue.
Nearby attractions
Related spots listed include Yahagigawa Sakurazutsumi, Tenman Shrine, Teishoin, and Shokoji Temple in Hekinan City.
Each is listed as a separate facility or tourist spot, not as part of the festival venue.
伊文神社
日本の愛知県西尾市にある神社
西尾市岩瀬文庫
Museums
Toba Shinmeisha
愛知県西尾市鳥羽町にある神社
Origins and History of Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine
Omanto is said to derive from “Ouma no To” (“Tower of Horses”), and refers to equestrian festivals found from eastern Owari through western Mikawa.
In the past, horses ran along a straight , but the horse procession was prohibited in Meiji 6 (1873), and permission was granted in Meiji 12 (1879) to hold it inside a fenced track.
The Omanto at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine, with its circular track, is said to have begun in the Meiji era.
Official information
A detailed page for “Nishio Autumn Festivals” on the official Nishio City Tourism Association website is listed as a related link.
The Nakabata Kakeuma Preservation Society is also listed as the organization preserving the festival.
Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine at a Glance
The Omanto Festival at Nakabatacho Hachimansha Shrine is a shrine festival in which young people leap onto horses and race with them around a circular track.
Highlights also include the Pony Shonenba event performed by elementary school students, and the Outstanding Horse event held at the end.
It is said to have originated as a coming-of-age ceremony, and that the form of running around a circular track began in the Meiji era.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
