A harvest-prayer ritual with horses and riders galloping up Tado’s slope
Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on May 4 and 5 / Every year
- Location
- Tado Taisha Shrine
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Kuwana City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional ritual involving horses and riders, passed down at Tado Taisha Shrine in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. Through ageuma, in which horses gallop up a steep slope, local people have traditionally sought to predict whether the harvest would be good or poor.
About Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual
The Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual is a traditional ritual held at Tado Taisha Shrine in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.
Horses were provided by each parishioner village, and people traditionally sought to predict that year’s harvest by observing the riders galloping up a steep slope.
The grand festival at Tado Taisha Shrine features ageuma and .
Source: 多度大社 上げ馬神事
Festival highlights
The main highlight is ageuma, in which young riders and their horses work as one to gallop up a steep slope.
The ritual later evolved into one where horses galloped up an earthen wall, and success in clearing the slope was seen as a sign of a good harvest.
In addition to ageuma, the festival also features yabusame and a procession.
Source: 三重県神社庁教化委員会 » 多度大社
A harvest-prayer ritual with horses and riders galloping up Tado’s slope
What to expect
During the festival, after events such as the riders’ entry and riding around the course, the riders mount their horses and gallop up the slope.
The events differ between the 4th and 5th. On the 5th, the program includes the grand festival, welcoming the sacred child, ageuma, Kusunoki-mawari, a mikoshi procession, and yabusame.
The riders’ outfits also differ by day: on the 4th they wear jingasa hats and kamishimo, and on the 5th they wear flower hats and warrior attire.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tado Taisha Shrine (1681 Tado, Tado-cho, Kuwana, Mie Prefecture)
Source: 上げ馬 | 多度大社
Address 1681 Tado, Tado-cho, Kuwana, Mie Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on May 4 and 5
- 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 Mie Prefecture / Kuwana City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Ageuma is a ritual in which horses and riders gallop up a steep slope. As it involves danger, be sure to follow local guidance and access restrictions when viewing.
Several events take place on different days, so check the times and locations of the events you want to see in advance.
Please also be mindful that this ritual involves animals, and watch quietly from the designated viewing areas.
Source: 三重県｜文化財：多度大社上げ馬神事の勧告に対する回答について
Nearby attractions
ナガシマスパーランド
三重県桑名市にある娯楽施設
写真：Hideyuki KAMON from Takarazuka / 宝塚市, Hyogo / 兵庫県, Japan / 日本 / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
Tado Taisha Shrine
三重県桑名市にある神社
写真：Ohaguro / おはぐろ蜻蛉 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
桑名宗社
三重県桑名市にある神社
Origins and History of Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual
The ageuma ritual is said to have originated around the Nanboku-cho period. It has continued as an offering to the gods by warriors and .
The festival was suspended for more than about 30 years after Oda Nobunaga’s forces set fire to the shrine, but it was rebuilt by Honda Tadakatsu during the Edo period, and the festival was revived during the time of Honda Tadamasu.
It has since continued to the present as a major festival organized by the mikuriya communities.
Official information
The main source of information is the official Tado Taisha Shrine website.
The official website lists information including a page about the ageuma ritual, Tado Festival, the schedule for the 4th, the schedule for the 5th, and transportation information.
The phone number for Tado Taisha Shrine is also listed as a contact point.
Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual at a Glance
The Tado Taisha Shrine Ageuma Ritual is a traditional ritual involving horses and riders, held every year on May 4 and 5 at Tado Taisha Shrine in Kuwana.
Centered on ageuma, in which horses gallop up a steep slope, the festival continues with the grand festival, a mikoshi procession, yabusame, and other events. It has also long been associated with beliefs about predicting the year’s harvest.
The venue is Tado Taisha Shrine.
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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