Tado Festival

Tado Festival, passed down at Tado Taisha in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, is a traditional event centered on the Ageuma ritual, in which festival horses race up a slope.

About Tado Festival

Tado Festival is an annual festival at Tado Taisha in Tado-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.

At the heart of the festival is the Ageuma ritual, in which festival horses from 6 districts attempt to climb the slope. Their progress is used to divine the year’s harvest prospects.

On May 5, a procession and ceremony are also held, as part of a traditional event supported by local (shrine parishioners).

Source: 多度祭 - Wikipedia / 多度祭行事予定 | 多度大社

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the Ageuma ritual, in which riders race up a slope on horseback.

On the 4th, 6 districts each take part twice; on the 5th, each district takes part once. The Ageuma that begins after the welcoming of the shrine child on the 5th is considered the climax of the ritual.

On the 5th, following the mikoshi procession, yabusame is also performed at the , where riders demonstrate mounted archery.

A traditional Tado festival featuring festival horses racing up a slope, mikoshi processions, and yabusame

What to expect

The festival consists of the eve festival on the 4th and the main festival on the 5th.

On the 4th, the events proceed from riders mounting up and riding around the grounds, to Ageuma, riding around the Suga riding grounds, and the riders spending the night in seclusion at the shrine.

On the 5th, the schedule includes an early-morning annual festival ceremony, riders mounting up, Ageuma, a mikoshi procession, a ceremony and yabusame at the Otabisho, and the return procession of the mikoshi.

Location and access

Venue and address

Tado Taisha (1681 Tado, Tado-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture).

Festival events take place not only at the shrine’s horse grounds, but also at Suga Horse Grounds and around the otabisho.

Train and bus

Information is available for the Yoro Railway.

There is also information about Kuwana City Community Buses heading to Tado Taisha-mae.

By car

A traffic restriction map for the Tado Festival is available.

Please be aware of traffic restrictions on the festival day.

Parking

Parking is limited on the festival day, so visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.

Source: 多度祭りアクセス | 年中行事 | 多度大社 / 多度祭資料館

Address 1681 Tado, Tado-cho, Kuwana, Mie Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: Every year on May 4 and the 5th
Frequency: Held annually

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Mie Prefecture / Kuwana City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

Parking is limited on the festival day, so visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Yoro Railway.

If you come by car, check the traffic restriction map and follow directions from staff on site.

Events such as the ageuma ritual and mikoshi procession take place in several locations, so when moving between viewing areas, take care not to obstruct the procession or the horses.

Nearby attractions

The Tado Festival Museum is right beside the Ageuma slope at Tado Taisha.

It displays historical materials related to the festival’s Ageuma ritual. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and visits require a reservation.

The address is 1681 Tado, Tado-cho, Kuwana. It is a 20-minute walk from Tado Station on the Yoro Railway, and is also accessible from the Tado Taisha-mae stop on the Kuwana City Community Bus.