Ōshiraki’s harvest celebration, passed down through straw coverings and chants
Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Location
- Ōshiraki district, Nanayama, Karatsu City
- Area
- Saga Prefecture・Karatsu City(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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Age restrictions
- At the 2024 event, participants ranged from preschool age to junior high school students
- Required number of participants
- 12 people in 2024
- Last updated
- 2026/10/22
A traditional event held every year in the Ōshiraki district of Nanayama, Karatsu City, celebrating the rice harvest and the children’s growth.
About Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki
Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki is a traditional event held every year in the Ōshiraki district of Nanayama, Karatsu City.
It has been passed down as a local event giving thanks for the rice harvest and wishing for the children to grow up safe and well.
It is also designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Karatsu City, and is known for the custom of children visiting homes throughout the community.
Source: 「トービトビ」の声で五穀豊穣 伝統行事「大白木の亥の子さま」子供たちの大きな声響く【佐賀県唐津市】｜佐賀のニュース｜サガテレビ
Festival highlights
At the 2024 event, the children wore “waratobi,” straw coverings made from straw left over from that year’s glutinous rice harvest.
A highlight is watching the children visit local homes one by one and loudly chant “Tōbi-tōbi” at the entrance.
Each household welcomed the children with fried chicken, rolled omelets, sweets, and other offerings placed by the entrance.
Ōshiraki’s harvest celebration, passed down through straw coverings and chants
What to expect
At the 2024 event, children from the Ōshiraki district, ranging from preschool age to junior high school students, took part.
The children visit homes in the community one by one, going around while chanting “Tōbi-tōbi” at the entrance.
They packed the sweets they received from each household into a wagon and took them home, then shared them all together at the end.
How to take part
対象年齢：2024年の実施では未就学児から中学生まで
必要人数：2024年は12人
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ōshiraki district, Nanayama, Karatsu City
Address Ōshiraki district, Shiraki, Nanayama, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
Dates and season
- 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 Saga Prefecture / Karatsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
佐賀県立名護屋城博物館
佐賀県唐津市にある博物館
写真：Aboshi at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
名護屋城
佐賀県の城跡
写真：Aboshi at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
唐津神社
佐賀県唐津市南城内にある神社
末盧館
佐賀県唐津市にある博物館
河村美術館
佐賀県唐津市にある美術館
鏡神社
唐津市にある神社
Origins and History of Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki
According to local residents, Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki has been held since before the war.
It has been held in the community for many years and is now designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Karatsu City.
A 2024 news report included residents’ hopes of passing the local tradition on to the next generation, even as the number of children has declined.
Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki at a Glance
Inoko-sama of Ōshiraki is a traditional event held every year in the Ōshiraki district of Nanayama, Karatsu City.
In gratitude for the rice harvest and with wishes for the children to grow up safe and well, children wear waratobi, visit homes throughout the community, and chant “Tōbi-tōbi.”
The event is said to date back to before the war and is also designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Karatsu City.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/22
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
