An offering of strength, as the mikoshi and 8 yamakasa resound together
Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Maythe 3-day period (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) ending on the 2nd Sunday / Every year
- Location
- Oritate Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Fukuoka Prefecture・Miyako Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/21
The Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa is a traditional event in Miyako Town, where 8 yamakasa accompany the as it travels in front of the shrine. and kakiyama proceed to the sound of bells and drums.
About Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa
The Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa is a yamakasa event offered as part of the Shinko-sai at Oritate Hachiman Shrine, also known as the “Saigawa .”
The event consists of the Shiioi-tori on the first day, the mikoshi’s departure on the second day, and its return on the third day. The 8 yamakasa accompany the mikoshi as it travels along the horse-riding grounds in front of the shrine.
The yamakasa include hikiyama and kakiyama. They are decorated with banners, curtains, willow branches, and carvings, and fitted with pillars serving as yorishiro, , and .
Source: 生立八幡神社山笠 - みやこ町役場
Festival highlights
One highlight is the scene of the 8 yamakasa accompanying the mikoshi as it travels along the horse-riding grounds in front of the shrine.
The yamakasa are divided into 2 types: 2 hikiyama, which are moved on wheels, and 6 kakiyama, which are carried on people’s shoulders.
Nearly 100 people coordinate as they lift the 15-meter-tall, approximately 3.5-ton yamakasa onto their shoulders and move it to the rhythm of bells and taiko drums, accompanied by shouts. This is presented as an event that offers strength.
Source: 祭事と兼務神社 | 生立八幡宮
An offering of strength, as the mikoshi and 8 yamakasa resound together
What to expect
The Shinko-sai begins on the first day with the Shiioi-tori: water is drawn from the Imagawa River in front of the shrine to purify the mikoshi and yamakasa.
On the second day, during the mikoshi’s departure, it makes a procession to Tateyashiki in Omura District, and the yamakasa also move.
On the night the mikoshi spends at the , a night market is held and is offered.
On the final day, during the mikoshi’s return, it returns to the shrine after the Ukiden-sai, and the yamakasa move back to their original positions.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Oritate Hachiman Shrine, 20 Oritate, Miyako Town, Kyoto District, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Train and bus
Heisei Chikuhō Railway to Saigawa Station, then about a 15-minute walk
- By car
About 15 minutes by car from the “Miyako-Toyotsu IC” on the Higashikyushu Expressway
Address 20 Oritate, Miyako Town, Kyoto District, Fukuoka Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Maythe 3-day period (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) ending on the 2nd Sunday
- 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 Fukuoka Prefecture / Miyako Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa
The Shinko-sai is said to have begun in Jiryaku 3 (1067).
The yamakasa are thought to have taken their present form by the middle of the Edo period. The tradition of processions featuring 2 hikiyama and 6 kakiyama has been passed down.
In Showa 37, the yamakasa event was designated a Fukuoka Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property under the name “Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa Event.”
In the past, some yamakasa traveled up to about 2 kilometers, crossing a river from their respective offering districts to gather.
Official information
The Miyako Town Office’s guide to the “Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa” and Oritate Hachiman Shrine’s guide to “Festivals and Shrines Under Its Care” introduce the event’s structure, types of yamakasa, and timing.
Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa at a Glance
The Oritate Hachiman Shrine Yamakasa is an event offered as part of the Shinko-sai, also known as the Saigawa Shinji.
The 8 yamakasa accompany the mikoshi throughout the 3 days of the Shiioi-tori, its departure, and its return.
There are 2 hikiyama and 6 kakiyama. The yamakasa, which stand 15 meters tall and weigh about 3.5 tons, are moved to the rhythm of bells and taiko drums.
The event is thought to have taken its present form by the middle of the Edo period, and was designated a Fukuoka Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Showa 37.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/21
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