Inazawa’s archery ritual, passed down through large straw sandals and 3 arrows
Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The 12th day of the first month of the old lunar calendar
- Location
- Sanguu Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Inazawa 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This traditional ritual in Otsuka-Minami, Inazawa City, involves the chief priest shooting arrows at a target while wearing large straw sandals, then purifying the local fields.
About Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha
Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha is an archery ritual held at Sanguu Shrine in Otsuka-Minami, Inazawa City.
On the 12th day of the first month of the old lunar calendar, oak wood and female bamboo are gathered to make bows, arrows, and targets.
Large straw sandals and rice-straw mats are also important festival implements, with their distinctive forms made using local materials passed down through the community.
It is designated as an intangible folk cultural property as one of the few archery rituals still found in the Owari region.
Source: 市指定文化財 三宮社の御武射 | 稲沢市
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the chief priest shooting a bow while wearing large straw sandals about six shaku long.
The priest slowly shoots 3 arrows at the target set up on the south side, and the target is broken after the shooting.
Picking up a released arrow is said to bring good luck, and the sight of the crowd vying for the arrows is another feature unique to this ritual.
The size of the large straw sandals, made using more than 40 bundles of rice straw, is also worth noting.
Inazawa’s archery ritual, passed down through large straw sandals and 3 arrows
What to expect
For the festival, oak wood is cut from the grove on the grounds of Shōkai-ji Temple, and a bow is made by stringing it with a hemp bowstring.
Arrows are made from female bamboo, and a target, (ritual wands), and rice-straw mats are set up on the south side of the shrine.
After the chief priest proceeds from the Saibunden to the and performs the archery ritual, he rides on a carrying platform borne by young people and heads toward the fields of Otsuka to perform a purification rite.
The ritual concludes after the purification at the shrine entrance.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sanguu Shrine (1-chome Otsuka-Minami, Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture).
- Parking
Sanguu Shrine has no parking lot. Visitors are directed to the nearby parking lot at Otsuka Shōkai-ji Historical Park.
Source: 三宮社 - 愛知県稲沢市 | Omairi(おまいり)
Address 1-chome Otsuka-Minami, Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
The 12th day of the first month of the old lunar calendar
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 / Inazawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Arrows are released during the archery ritual, and the target is broken afterward.
People may gather to pick up the arrows, so when watching, be mindful of activity around the archery area and the movement of the crowd. It is important to watch from a place that does not interfere with the ritual.
As the festival takes place on , please respect the shrine buildings and ritual implements, and follow any on-site instructions.
Nearby attractions
尾張大国霊神社
愛知県稲沢市にある神社
Origins and History of Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha
Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha has been passed down to the present as one of the archery rituals of the Owari region.
During the festival, bows, arrows, and large straw sandals are prepared using oak, female bamboo, rice straw, and other materials, followed by an archery ritual performed by the chief priest and a purification rite for the fields.
In Heisei 3November 1, it was designated an intangible folk cultural property of Inazawa City.
No specific, verifiable account of its origins or when it began is available.
Official information
The Inazawa City page “City-Designated Cultural Property: Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha” provides details about the festival, its location, cultural property classification, and designation date.
For inquiries, contact the Cultural Properties Group, Lifelong Learning Division, Inazawa City Board of Education Secretariat.
Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha at a Glance
Sanguu Shrine’s O-busha is an archery ritual passed down at Sanguu Shrine in Otsuka-Minami, Inazawa City.
The chief priest shoots 3 arrows while wearing large straw sandals; people gather to pick up the arrows, and the target is broken afterward.
Another distinctive feature is the sequence of making bows, arrows, and large straw sandals from local natural materials, then performing a purification rite for the fields of Otsuka.
It is a valuable festival designated as an intangible folk cultural property and preserved in the Owari region.
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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