Asuka’s Ondasai: rice-planting actions and rituals unique to a strange festival
Ondasai
The 2026 edition of Ondasai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/01Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on the first Sunday of February / Every year
- Location
- Asuka-imasu- Shrine
- Area
- Nara Prefecture・Asuka Village(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train + connecting 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
Ondasai at Asuka-imasu-jinja Shrine is a distinctive in which people pray for a bountiful harvest through actions depicting field preparation and rice planting, and a tengu and Otafuku appear.
About Ondasai
Ondasai is a traditional festival associated with agriculture and fertility, held at Asuka-imasu-jinja Shrine in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture.
Prayers are offered for the growth of rice, a bountiful harvest, children, good matches, and children's safe growth, and agricultural actions and a ritual for marital harmony are performed.
Before and after the shinji, people dressed as a tengu, an old man, and an ox appear and perform actions unique to the festival.
Source: おんだ祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
Highlights include scenes that present agricultural activities as festival rites and a ritual for marital harmony featuring a tengu and Otafuku.
Actions such as plowing a field, sowing seeds, and planting rice unfold to the beat of a .
In the final “seed-planting” performance, the tengu and Otafuku perform a distinctive act, and “paper of good fortune” is scattered among the spectators.
Asuka’s Ondasai: rice-planting actions and rituals unique to a strange festival
What to expect
The festival begins with a taiko signal and proceeds through agricultural rites, shinji, and a ritual for marital harmony.
Before and after the shinji, a tengu, an old man, and an ox carry sasara and go around tapping worshippers on the buttocks to ward off evil.
Next, actions depicting field preparation, sowing seeds, and planting rice are performed, followed by the final “seed-planting” scene and the scattering of paper of good fortune.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the festival.
As there is a scene in which a tengu, an old man, and an ox go around tapping worshippers on the buttocks with sasara, please avoid obstructing the proceedings while watching.
No information is provided on whether general visitors can take part in the ritual performances or whether a specific application is required to participate.
Source: Onda Festival - Official Nara Travel Guide / おんだ祭 | OMATSURI NAVI｜英語対応、日本のお祭り検索サイト「お祭りナビ」
Location and access
- Venue and address
Asuka-imasu-jinja Shrine (Asuka, Asuka Village, Takaichi District)
- Train and bus
Take a shuttle bus from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station to the “Asuka Daibutsu” bus stop, then walk 5 minutes.
Event venue 奈良県明日香村 飛鳥坐神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed date has passed)
Ondasai 2026 was held on February 1 (Sunday).
This festival is held every year on the first Sunday of February.
The event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
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 Nara Prefecture / Asuka Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As a tengu, an old man, and an ox carrying sasara go around among the worshippers, please watch while paying attention to the proceedings and the performers’ movements.
The “seed-planting” performance includes a distinctive act and a scene in which paper of good fortune is scattered, so be mindful of crowds around you.
The shinji includes expressions related to marital harmony and sexuality, so if you are visiting with children, please consider the content when deciding whether to attend.
Nearby attractions
国営飛鳥歴史公園
奈良県明日香村にある国営公園
奈良県立万葉文化館
奈良県高市郡明日香村にある美術館 · Museums
犬養万葉記念館
奈良県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
飛鳥資料館
奈良県明日香村にある奈良文化財研究所の附属機関
Origins and History of Ondasai
The origins of Ondasai are unclear, but it is considered a traditional event passed down from long ago.
This festival has been passed down as a way to pray for the growth of rice and a bountiful harvest through agricultural actions, as well as for children, good matches, and children's safe growth.
It is sometimes described as one of the three great strange festivals of western Japan.
Official information
飛鳥坐神社の公式サイトは 飛鳥坐神社の公式サイト です。
Ondasai at a Glance
Ondasai is an agricultural ritual that has been passed down at Asuka-imasu-jinja Shrine in Asuka Village.
To the beat of a taiko, actions depicting field preparation and rice planting are performed, followed by distinctive rituals such as the tengu and Otafuku’s “seed-planting” performance.
In 2026, it was held on February 1, and visitors can take a shuttle bus from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station when using public transportation.
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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