Tobiko in flower hats dance around the taiko at an autumn festival passed down in a mountain village
Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- November 3 / Every year
- Location
- Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Takahashi City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 10 min–3 h 40 min · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
This autumn festival at Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine in Hirakawa, Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City features the Watari-byoshi, the Yudate ritual, the sacred procession, and miyaza ceremonies. The Watari-byoshi, in which tobiko wearing flower hats and costumes leap around the , is the festival’s signature lively performance.
About Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival
The Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival is held each year at Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine on November 3.
The Watari-byoshi, the Yudate ritual, and the sacred procession are followed by miyaza ceremonies in the .
Although the festival organization and miyaza membership have changed over time, the festival has been passed down as a tradition rooted in local ties in the mountainous area of west-central Bitchu.
It is also designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the Watari-byoshi, performed in attendance at the sacred procession.
Several teams of 4 tobiko, adorned with beautiful flower hats and costumes, leap around the taiko to the beat of the kane, dancing as they strike the drums with their sticks.
The sound of the taiko and kane, the tobiko’s movements, and the splendor of the flower hats and costumes come together in the festival’s most vibrant scene.
It is also said to display the style of furyu performing arts associated with nenbutsu odori.
Tobiko in flower hats dance around the taiko at an autumn festival passed down in a mountain village
What to expect
The festival proceeds in the order of the Watari-byoshi, the Yudate ritual, and the sacred procession, followed by miyaza ceremonies in the haiden.
In the Watari-byoshi, the tobiko leap around the taiko to the sound of the kane, dancing as they strike the drums with their sticks.
The Watari-byoshi is offered as music accompanying the sacred procession and plays a major role in the sequence of festival events.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine, 6697 Hirakawa, Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City
Address 6697 Hirakawa, Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
November 3
- 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 Okayama Prefecture / Takahashi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
備中松山城
かつて日本の岡山県高梁市にあった城
吉備川上ふれあい漫画美術館
岡山県高梁市にある美術館
高梁市成羽美術館
岡山県高梁市にある美術館、考古学系博物館
Origins and History of Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival
Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine enshrines Emperor Ōjin, Empress Jingū, Toyosukiirihime-no-Mikoto, and Tamayorihime-no-Mikoto. It is said to have been established in Kenmu 3 (1336), when Hirakawa Kamanosuke Takachika invited the deity of Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.
Although the festival organization and members of the miyaza have changed over time, the autumn festival has been passed down as a folk tradition strongly rooted in local ties.
The Watari-byoshi is also valued from the perspectives of performing arts history and folklore studies, and was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture in 2016.
Official information
The Takahashi River Basin League introduces the festival as the “Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival,” covering its location, dates, sequence of events, and the Watari-byoshi.
Okayama Prefecture lists the “Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival” among its prefecture-designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.
Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival at a Glance
The Sukizaki Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival is a traditional festival held each year in Hirakawa, Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City, on November 3.
In the Watari-byoshi, teams of 4 tobiko in flower hats and costumes leap around the taiko, dancing and striking the drums to the beat of the kane.
The events proceed through the Yudate ritual, the sacred procession, and the miyaza ceremonies. The festival is also designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/12
