An auspicious ritual passed down in Oku-Mikawa, entrusting wishes to a deer target
Shitara no Shikauchi Event
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- lunar calendar: January–February, April 22 / Every year
- Location
- Fukunoki — Tennō Hachio Shrine; Tsuki — Tsuki Shrine; Kobayashi — Suwa Shrine; Futtō — Hachiman Shrine; Notose — grounds of Suwa Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Shinshiro City, Tōei Town(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
A traditional auspicious ritual from Oku-Mikawa, in which a target resembling a deer is made and 2 targets representing a male and a female deer are shot at. The tradition is passed down in the districts of Fukunoki, Tsuki, Kobayashi, Futtō, and Notose.
About Shitara no Shikauchi Event
The Shitara no Shikauchi Event is an auspicious ritual performed at the beginning of the year to drive away birds and animals that damage crops in the fields.
The tradition is passed down at 5 locations in Oku-Mikawa, where people make a target resembling a deer by bundling together cedar branches and leaves, sasa bamboo, and other materials.
To conclude the event, people shoot at 2 targets representing a male and a female deer, giving form to their wish to protect crops.
It is designated as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the distinctive target resembling a deer, made by bundling together cedar branches and leaves and sasa bamboo.
2 targets representing a male and a female deer are prepared, and the event ends with people shooting at them.
This is a distinctive local annual event that survives at 5 locations in Oku-Mikawa. Another notable feature is that events with the same name are passed down in multiple districts.
An auspicious ritual passed down in Oku-Mikawa, entrusting wishes to a deer target
What to expect
The event begins with making a target resembling a deer by bundling together cedar branches and leaves, sasa bamboo, and other materials.
The ritual then involves shooting at 2 targets representing a male and a female deer, bringing the event to a close.
The date varies by district. The tradition is passed down at Fukunoki, Tsuki, Kobayashi, Futtō, and Notose, with each event held at a local shrine or similar venue.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Fukunoki is at Tennō Hachio Shrine; Tsuki is at Tsuki Shrine; Kobayashi is at Suwa Shrine; Futtō is at Hachiman Shrine; and Notose is on the grounds of Suwa Shrine in Shinshiro City.
Event venue 愛知県新城市,東栄町 布川
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
Dates vary by district each year: Nunokawa holds its event on day 2 of lunar month 1; Tsuki on the first Sunday of lunar calendar: January; Kobayashi on the Sunday closest to day 5 of lunar month 1; Furuto on the second Day of the Horse in lunar calendar: February; and Notose on April 22.
Some districts follow the lunar calendar, so check the information for each venue before visiting.
Origins and History of Shitara no Shikauchi Event
The precise origins and date of establishment of this event have not been confirmed, but it has been passed down as an auspicious ritual performed at the beginning of the year to protect fields and crops.
It survives at 5 locations in Oku-Mikawa and was selected on December 24, 1981 as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.
The tradition continues today at local , where people shoot at a target resembling a deer.
Official information
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties” provides the name, public dates, locations, and details of the Shitara no Shikauchi Event.
An overview of the same event is also available on the Cultural Heritage Online website.
Since dates vary by location, visitors are advised to check with the relevant municipal board of education or another appropriate office before visiting.
Shitara no Shikauchi Event at a Glance
The Shitara no Shikauchi Event is an auspicious ritual from Oku-Mikawa in which a target resembling a deer is made and 2 targets representing a male and a female deer are shot at.
The tradition is passed down at 5 locations: Fukunoki, Tsuki, Kobayashi, Futtō, and Notose. Public dates and venues vary by district.
The specific dates for 2026 are currently being confirmed. If you are planning to attend, please check the information provided for each location.
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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