A festival to gather around four masks and discover the prayers passed down in Tani
Tani no Omen-san Festival
The 2026 edition of Tani no Omen-san Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/14Ended
- Season / frequency
- A Saturday close to February 16 each year / Every year
- Location
- Tani Community Center
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Katsuyama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 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
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional event in Tani, Kitadani-cho, Katsuyama City, where four masks are displayed and worshipped with prayers for a good harvest.
About Tani no Omen-san Festival
The Tani no Omen-san Festival is an event designated as an intangible folk cultural property by the city, passed down in Tani, Kitadani-cho, Katsuyama City.
Four masks, including a jō mask and a female mask, are displayed, and local people worship them.
It is a traditional event of the Tani district, combining the custom of enshrining the masks with prayers for a good harvest.
Source: 勝山 | 白山ユネスコエコパーク / 行事 digital 令和8年1月22日号 - 恐竜のまち 勝山市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is the unveiling, when four masks, normally kept with great care in storage, are displayed.
The masks have been hung in front of a gold folding screen, with offerings such as sake and dried squid placed nearby.
Sharing a meal with local people around the masks, and enjoying and entertainment, are also distinctive features of this festival.
Source: 勝山市の伝統行事・祭礼 – デジタルアーカイブ研究所 – 岐阜女子大学 / 北谷町谷のお面さん祭りと伊良神社の神事に参加【勝山市】 | 福井県伝承浪漫
A festival to gather around four masks and discover the prayers passed down in Tani
What to expect
The event begins with the masks being displayed at Tani Community Center, where visitors can worship them.
At past events, shinto rituals were then held at Ira Shrine, and in the evening participants gathered to enjoy a meal and entertainment.
The schedule for the public viewing, shinto rituals, and evening events may vary from year to year.
How to take part
The unveiling has been held in a way that allows members of the general public to visit and worship.
In past events, visitors from outside the area have worshipped without waiting in line and joined the meal and festival activities.
However, some parts, such as the shinto rituals, are primarily for those involved. Please follow local guidance when you are there.
The usual way to take part is to visit the Tani Community Center during the unveiling and view the masks.
In the past, visitors who came without reservations have been seen worshipping and joining the meal, but arrangements for meals and group participation may vary from year to year.
For details on how to participate, contact the Kitadani-cho Community Center.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tani Community Center (Tani settlement, Kitadani-cho, Katsuyama City).
- By car
Take Prefectural Road 135 from National Route 157 and head for Tani settlement.
Event venue 福井県勝山市 谷集会場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the event was held on February 14 (Saturday), with the unveiling announced for 10 a.m. at Tani Community Center.
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 Fukui Prefecture / Katsuyama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Tani settlement is in a mountainous area, so take care of snow and road conditions in winter.
Past travel accounts describe the Kitadani area as typically receiving around 1 to 2 meters of snow each year.
If driving, make sure your vehicle is equipped for winter conditions. Near the venue, be considerate of local residents and follow posted signs.
Nearby attractions
かつやま恐竜の森
福井県勝山市村岡町寺尾にある都市公園
はたや記念館 ゆめおーれ勝山
日本の福井県勝山市にある博物館
勝山城博物館
福井県勝山市にある天守風の博物館
平泉寺白山神社
福井県勝山市にある神社
写真：藤谷良秀(Fujitani Yoshihide) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
福井県立恐竜博物館
福井県勝山市にある博物館
Origins and History of Tani no Omen-san Festival
There are several stories about the origins of the masks.
According to one story, during the burning of Heisenji in the Tensho era, seven masks taken away by people from Obara Village were thrown into a river. People from Tani Village are said to have retrieved four of them and enshrined them.
The festival rites, once held at the district head's home, have since moved to the community center, where the masks are displayed.
Official information
The 2026 event information is posted in the event listings on the official Katsuyama City website.
The venue is listed as Tani Community Center, with the unveiling scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.; the Kitadani-cho Community Center is listed as the contact point.
Tani no Omen-san Festival at a Glance
The Tani no Omen-san Festival is a traditional event in Tani, Kitadani-cho, Katsuyama City, where four masks are displayed and worshipped, and prayers are offered for a good harvest.
The unveiling is at the heart of the festival, which carries on local prayers, meals, and shinto rituals.
In 2026, the unveiling was announced for 10 a.m. at Tani Community Center on February 14 (Saturday).
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
