Yashiro’s unusual festival, where legends are acted out in ink and fern costumes
Tegi Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Around April 3 / It is not held regularly
- Location
- Yashiro Kannon (Fukujuji Temple) and Kamo Shrine
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Obama 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Tegi Festival, passed down in the Yashiro district of Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, is a festival based on a legend about a Chinese ship washing ashore. Villagers with their faces painted with ink and fern leaves on their heads, along with people carrying a log boat, appear and act out scenes from the legend.
About Tegi Festival
The Tegi Festival is a festival passed down in the Yashiro district of Obama City, Fukui Prefecture.
It is said to have begun to honor the victims and serve as a warning about the actions of the ancestors, based on a legend that villagers killed the crew of a Chinese ship that had washed ashore and stole its treasures.
The festival reenacts the events.
It is also designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
Source: 文化財詳細 | 福井県文化財ページ / 手杵祭り | 小浜市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
A highlight is the striking appearance of the villagers, whose faces are painted with ink and whose heads are covered with fern leaves.
The procession also includes people carrying a wooden log boat made to resemble a Chinese ship and girls playing the roles of a queen and her attendants. It proceeds to the sound of drums and songs.
At the end, a scene is performed in which the villagers attack the queen and her party, bringing the legend to life before the audience.
Yashiro’s unusual festival, where legends are acted out in ink and fern costumes
What to expect
The festival begins with Shinto rites at a shrine or temple, followed by a procession of people taking on festival roles.
The procession includes people swinging tegi staffs, carrying bows and arrows, young men carrying the Karafune-maru, women playing court ladies, and drummers. Performances are presented in the , in front of the gate, and in front of Fukujuji Temple.
Scenes unfold to the sound of drums and jinku songs, and at the end, the procession returns to the shrine and disbands.
Source: 手杵祭 - Wikipedia
How to take part
There is no information indicating that members of the general public can take on roles in the festival.
The roles are said to be filled by the chief priest and other residents of the district, who perform as villagers, boat haulers, a queen, attendants, and others.
The festival is also listed as suspended for public viewing in 2026.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yashiro Kannon (Fukujuji Temple) and Kamo Shrine opposite it.
The location is Yashiro, Obama City, Fukui Prefecture.
- Train and bus
The Yashiro district is about 10 km east of JR Obama Station.
Address Yashiro, Obama City, Fukui Prefecture
Dates and season
The festival is said to be held each year on April 3.
If you plan to attend as a spectator, check in advance whether it will take place.
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 / Obama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
If the festival resumes, note that performances take place at several locations, including the jinja grounds, in front of the torii, and in front of the temple.
A procession of costumed performers, a log boat, and moves along, so it is important to watch quietly from a spot that does not obstruct the performances.
The festival is listed as suspended in 2026, so check its status before heading there.
Nearby attractions
山川登美子記念館
福井県小浜市にある文学館
御食国若狭おばま食文化館
福井県小浜市にある博物館
福井県立若狭歴史博物館
福井県小浜市にある博物館
Origins and History of Tegi Festival
The Tegi Festival is linked to a legend that a Chinese ship washed ashore on the coast of Yashiro in Tenpyo-hoji 3 (759).
It is said that a plague spread after the villagers killed the crew and took their treasures. Repenting of their wrongdoing, they enshrined a Kannon statue and began the festival to honor the victims.
It was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture in Showa 43, and records indicate that it resumed in 2014 after a period of suspension.
Official information
The Obama City official website’s Tegi Festival guide and the Fukui Prefecture cultural property page explain the festival’s origins and performances, and provide information on its suspension.
Tegi Festival at a Glance
The Tegi Festival is a festival in the Yashiro district of Obama City that reenacts a legend about a Chinese ship washing ashore.
Its distinctive features include costumes with ink and fern leaves, a log boat, and a procession accompanied by drums and songs. It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
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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