Omi no Sato Matsuri

Omi no Sato Matsuri are festivals passed down by multiple settlements in various parts of Shiga Prefecture. Centered on the shrines, settlements divide up roles involving the , banners, and dancing, and organize the festivals according to local customs. Festival dates and details vary by location, offering a chance to learn about each area’s distinctive character.

About Omi no Sato Matsuri

Omi no Sato Matsuri are festivals passed down by multiple settlements and held across almost all of Shiga Prefecture.

Each settlement has its own shrine, and a distinctive feature is the layered relationship known as “dual ,” in which residents serve as parishioners of multiple shrines.

They are organized through the division of roles among settlements and long-standing customs, and continue in close connection with local religious beliefs.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

Festival highlights

A highlight is how each settlement takes on roles such as carrying the mikoshi, pulling floats, and dancing, bringing the festival to life.

In the example of Kawakami Festival in Imazu, Takashima City, the mikoshi, banners, and dancers head to the festival grounds in turn, followed by children carrying small banners.

Details vary by area, but cooperation among settlements and the distinctive movements of festival implements convey the festival’s appeal.

Omi no Sato Matsuri, where bonds between settlements live on in the mikoshi and banners

What to expect

At the festivals, each settlement takes turns in roles involving the mikoshi, banners, and dancing, then proceeds to the festival grounds after shrine rituals.

In the example of Kawakami Festival, the mikoshi, banners, and dancers proceed in turn. After everyone arrives at the ritual site, the large banner is brought down, and the gathering disperses after singing the Ise Ondo.

The sequence of events and roles vary by area, and preparations and community meetings also take place outside the festival dates.

Location and access

Host prefecture Shiga Prefecture

This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.

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Dates and season

The dates vary by region and are not the same everywhere.

In some regions, the festival is not limited to a single day, and preparations and community gatherings take place on other days as well.

Please check each region’s festival information for the specific schedule.

Tips for your visit

Festival dates and details for Omi no Sato Matsuri vary by area, so it is important to check the intended area and festival name before visiting.

When watching festivals held around shrines and settlements, please respect the participants’ roles and local customs.

As some festivals, such as Kawakami Festival, move between multiple shrines and festival grounds, please follow local guidance on where to watch.

Origins and History of Omi no Sato Matsuri

The background to Omi no Sato Matsuri is said to include the medieval manor system, manor guardian shrines, water-use customs, and alliances of local influential families.

Under the system of local communities linking multiple settlements, the tradition of settlements taking turns in their roles has been passed down.

Kawakami Festival in Imazu, Takashima City, is passed down as a festival dating back to the medieval period and still has divisions based on the former shō area and a rotating duty system.

Official information

Omi no Sato Matsuri is an intangible folk cultural property listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties, etc.” for which measures such as creating records are to be taken.

The designation date is March 16, 2020, and no preservation organization has been identified.

It is listed as open to the public at any time throughout the year.