Banners and the Tenpi-sama Procession bring together Ōma’s prayers for the sea
Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession
The 2026 edition of Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/20Ended
- Season / frequency
- Held every year around Marine Day / Every year
- Location
- Ōma Port / In front of Ōma Inari
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Ōma Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
A traditional event in Ōma Town, praying for safety at sea and abundant catches through prayers held aboard fishing boats and the Tenpi-sama Procession through town.
About Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession
The Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession are traditional events held in Ōma Town to pray for safety at sea and abundant catches.
Fishing boats bearing banners head out into the Tsugaru Strait and gather around the boat carrying an image of Ebisu, the guardian deity of the fishing industry.
At sea, people pray for a good catch by placing talismans in the water and performing as an offering.
The procession of Tenpi-sama, regarded as a goddess who protects those at sea, also makes its way from Ōma Inari Jinja through the town.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the sight of fishing boats heading out to sea all at once, their colorful banners fluttering in the wind.
The boats gather in the Tsugaru Strait around the ceremonial boat, where talismans are placed in the water and kagura is performed as an offering.
The fishing boats cutting through the whitecaps make for a powerful sight unique to this seaborne prayer ritual.
During the Tenpi-sama Procession, the group winds through town to the sounds of kagura music and firecrackers.
Banners and the Tenpi-sama Procession bring together Ōma’s prayers for the sea
What to expect
The events are presented in this order: prayers at the shrine, the talisman ritual performed offshore by the ceremonial boat, and the Tenpi-sama Procession.
At sea, fishing boats raise their banners and gather around the boat carrying an image of Ebisu, performing kagura as an offering.
The Tenpi-sama Procession sets off from in front of Ōma Inari Jinja and winds through town to the sounds of kagura music and firecrackers.
Mochi are also thrown during the procession.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Great Catch Prayer Festival: Ōma Port / Tenpi-sama Procession: in front of Inari Jinja
- Address
91 Ōma, Ōaza Ōma, Ōma Town, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
- Train and bus
From JR Shimokita Station, take the Shimokita Kotsu Shimokita-Mutsu Line Sai Line for about 120 minutes, get off at the “Ōma” bus stop, then walk about 2 minutes.
- By car
About 60 minutes from JR Shimokita Station
- Parking
Parking lot at Ōma Town Health and Welfare Center “Smiley” or Ōma Port
Address 91 Ōma, Ōaza Ōma, Ōma Town, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
Held on July 20, 2026 (Marine Day).
Festival prayers begin at 8:30 a.m., and the talisman ritual sets off from in front of Inari Jinja at around 9 a.m.
The Tenpi-sama Procession sets off from in front of Ōma Inari Jinja at around 11 a.m., followed by mochi throwing at around 12 p.m.
The schedule may change.
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 Aomori Prefecture / Ōma Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
According to the 2026 event information, procession times may change, so visitors are advised to arrive early if taking part or watching.
Visitors cannot observe the festival prayers.
If driving, use the parking lot at Ōma Town Health and Welfare Center “Smiley” or Ōma Port.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include the Ōma Fishing Port unloading area.
Also listed in Ōma Town is “Go After the Black Diamond! Ōma Tuna Single-Line Fishing Experience.”
Origins and History of Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession
Tenpi-sama is described as a sea guardian widely worshipped in places such as Taiwan and enshrined at the Inari Jinja in Ōma Town.
Tenpi-sama is said to have been moved to Ōma in 1696, and the procession began in 1996, the 300th anniversary of the move.
As a procession blending Japanese and Taiwanese cultures, it has shaped the festival as it is celebrated today.
Official information
The Ōma Town Tourism Association has published information about the 2026 event.
The Aomori Prefecture tourism information site also provides links to related pages from the Ōma Town website and the Ōma Town Tourism Association.
Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession at a Glance
The Great Catch Prayer Festival and Tenpi-sama Procession are Marine Day events in Ōma Town, where people pray for safety at sea and abundant catches.
Fishing boats bearing banners head offshore from Ōma Port, where talismans are placed in the water and kagura is performed as an offering.
The Tenpi-sama Procession sets off from in front of Ōma Inari Jinja and proceeds through town to the sounds of kagura music and firecrackers. In 2026, mochi throwing was scheduled for around noon.
The 2026 event was held on July 20.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/12
