Noke’s Obon event, alive with shoulder-carried Bon-oshi and a giant Bon-rope Tug-of-War
Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 15 / Every year
- Location
- Jiroku Tenjin Shrine in Taguma and the road in front of the shrine
- Area
- Fukuoka Prefecture・Fukuoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)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.
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Traditional Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War events passed down in Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City. As offerings to Jiroku Tenjin Shrine, the young men push against one another and local people take part in the tug-of-war.
About Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War
Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War are traditional events held in Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City, and offered at Jiroku Tenjin Shrine every year on August 15.
The Bon-oshi, performed by young men wearing , is followed by the Bon-rope Tug-of-War, in which people of all ages from the neighborhood take part.
In the Bon-rope Tug-of-War, participants pull together on a large rope on the road in front of the shrine.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the lively Bon-oshi, where young men wearing happi carry one another on their shoulders and push against each other.
Afterward, a Bon-rope Tug-of-War takes place on the road in front of the shrine, using a rope made of kaya grass that is about 50 meters long and weighs about 3 tons.
It is a vigorous Obon event in which young men and people of all ages from the neighborhood pull together on a single rope.
Noke’s Obon event, alive with shoulder-carried Bon-oshi and a giant Bon-rope Tug-of-War
What to expect
The event is held as an offering to Jiroku Tenjin Shrine.
First comes the Bon-oshi, where young men wearing happi carry one another on their shoulders and push against each other; afterward, the Bon-rope Tug-of-War takes place on the road in front of the shrine.
In the Bon-rope Tug-of-War, young men and people of all ages from the neighborhood pull together on a large rope made of kaya grass.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Jiroku Tenjin Shrine in Taguma (2-37-10 Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City) / The Bon-rope Tug-of-War takes place on the road in front of the shrine
Address 2-37-10 Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on August 15
- 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 Fukuoka Prefecture / Fukuoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Sumiyoshi Shrine
福岡県福岡市博多区住吉にある神社
博多ポートタワー
博多港にあるタワー
Ohori Park
福岡市中央区の公園
写真：Tzuhsun Hsu from Taipei, Taiwan / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
志賀海神社
福岡県福岡市東区にある神社
海の中道海浜公園
福岡県福岡市東区にある国営公園
福岡アジア美術館
福岡市博多区にある美術館
福岡タワー
福岡市早良区の電波塔
福岡城
福岡市中央区にある城
福岡市動植物園
福岡市の動物園及び植物園
福岡市博物館
福岡市早良区にある博物館
福岡市美術館
福岡市中央区の大濠公園にある美術館
Origins and History of Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War
Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War are traditional events passed down in Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City.
Every year on August 15, they are offered at Jiroku Tenjin Shrine in Taguma, followed by the Bon-rope Tug-of-War after the Bon-oshi.
The origins, date of establishment, and historical changes of the festival are not provided.
Official information
The official Fukuoka City Sawara Ward guide gives the venue address and offering date for Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War, and describes both events.
Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War at a Glance
Taguma Bon-oshi and Bon-rope Tug-of-War are traditional events offered at Jiroku Tenjin Shrine in Noke, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City, every year on August 15.
The shoulder-carried pushing of the Bon-oshi, where young men wearing happi push against each other, is followed by the Bon-rope Tug-of-War on the road in front of the shrine, using a rope about 50 meters long and weighing about 3 tons.
This is an Obon event passed down in the community, with people of all ages from the neighborhood taking part.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
