A traditional Atsuike procession brought to life by the beat of drums and red attire
Nishio Tenteko Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on January 3 / Every year
- Location
- Atsuike Hachimansha
- 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Nishio Tenteko Festival, passed down in Atsuikecho, Nishio City, is an agricultural festival praying for a bountiful harvest, where men in red clothing parade to the beat of drums. Distinctive customs, including a procession with daikon radishes worn at the waist and the scattering of straw ash, have been passed down through the generations.
About Nishio Tenteko Festival
Nishio Tenteko Festival is an agricultural festival held at Hachimansha in Atsuikecho, Nishio City, during the New Year period.
It is held to pray for a bountiful harvest and has been passed down as a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The distinctive sight of men in red clothing processing to the beat of drums has made it a well-known traditional event representing the region.
The festival is said to have begun because this area was chosen in the Heian period as the Yuki rice field for Emperor Seiwa’s Daijō-e ceremony.
Source: 西尾のてんてこ祭｜西尾市公式ウェブサイト
Festival highlights
The main highlight is a procession of 6 men dressed in red.
Three of them wear daikon radishes shaped like phalluses at their waists and move forward, swaying their hips to the drum rhythm of “tenteko, tenteko.”
Upon reaching the , participants scatter straw ash with bamboo brooms.
The ash that lands on spectators is said to ward off misfortune.
A traditional Atsuike procession brought to life by the beat of drums and red attire
What to expect
The festival begins with 6 people in red attire processing toward the shrine.
Among the procession, 3 people wear daikon radishes at their waists and move forward, swaying their hips to the beat of the drums.
When the procession reaches the grounds of Atsuike Hachimansha, straw ash is scattered with bamboo brooms, and ash may land on spectators.
This agricultural festival, held to pray for a bountiful harvest, centers on the procession and the scattering of ash in the shrine grounds.
How to take part
The festival procession and events in the shrine grounds are held for general worshippers to watch.
After the rice-planting song is sung in the , there is a moment when worshippers toss in pine needles.
Visitors can watch the procession heading to Atsuike Hachimansha, the scattering of straw ash in the shrine grounds, and the rice-planting song.
There is also a moment when worshippers toss in pine needles.
Source: てんてこ祭（熱池八幡社） – 西尾観光
Location and access
- Venue and address
Atsuike Hachimansha (103 Kanda, Atsuikecho, Nishio City)
- Train and bus
Travel from Fukuchi Station on the Meitetsu Nishio Line.
The “Atsuike” stop is listed for Meitetsu Tobu Kotsu buses.
Address 103 Kanda, Atsuikecho, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture 445-0881
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on January 3
- 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 Aichi Prefecture / Nishio City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The procession travels from the neighborhood to Atsuike Hachimansha, where straw ash is scattered in the shrine grounds.
It is said that getting ash on you wards off misfortune, but take care to keep it off your clothes and belongings.
Visitors are advised to use public transportation to reach the area around the venue whenever possible.
Nearby attractions
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 Nishio Tenteko Festival
Nishio Tenteko Festival is said to have begun because Atsuike was chosen in the Heian period as the Yuki rice field for Emperor Seiwa’s Daijō-e ceremony.
This agricultural festival is held to pray for a bountiful harvest and still takes place on January 3.
It is designated a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property and has been passed down in distinctive forms, including a procession in red clothing, drums, and the scattering of straw ash.
Official information
The Nishio City official website lists the venue as Hachimansha in Atsuikecho and introduces the festival’s origins, procession, and straw-ash scattering.
A related video from the Nishio City Cultural Properties Channel is also available.
For the latest information on the date and venue conditions, check Nishio City’s festival guide.
Nishio Tenteko Festival at a Glance
Nishio Tenteko Festival is an agricultural festival held on January 3 at Atsuike Hachimansha to pray for a bountiful harvest.
Six people in red clothing parade to the beat of drums, with 3 of them wearing daikon radishes at their waists in a distinctive procession.
Straw ash is scattered in the shrine grounds and is said to ward off misfortune.
The 2026 event is scheduled for January 3. The venue can be reached on foot from Fukuchi Station or the Atsuike bus stop.
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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