A Yoshitomi Town ritual entrusting the coming year’s harvest to the waters of the Sai River
Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year October 14 / Every year
- Location
- Tsubo Shrine
- Area
- Fukuoka Prefecture・Yoshitomi Town(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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
At Tsubo Shrine in Tsuchiya, Yoshitomi Town, a ritual has been handed down in which water drawn from the Sai River is offered to a jar that enshrines a divine spirit, and the amount is used to divine rainfall in the coming year. The region’s prayers for an abundant harvest are expressed in this distinctive custom centered on water.
About Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination
Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination are part of an autumn festival held every year in Tsuchiya, Yoshitomi Town, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Young men selected from among the parishioners of the local Tsuchiya district draw water from the Sai River and offer it to a jar that enshrines a divine spirit.
The amount of water left in the jar is used to divine whether rainfall in the coming year will be sufficient for a good harvest and crop growth.
Source: Tsubo Shrine · 献水神事(水占い) | 吉富町観光 · 物産サイト よしこい！吉富（よしとみ）
Festival highlights
A highlight is the water-offering procession, in which selected young men draw water from the Sai River with hand-held buckets and carry it back to Tsubo Shrine.
The clean water brought back is poured by the priest into a jar that enshrines a divine spirit.
A distinctive custom has been handed down in which the amount of water left in the sacred jar is used to divine rainfall and crop growth in the coming year.
A Yoshitomi Town ritual entrusting the coming year’s harvest to the waters of the Sai River
What to expect
For the ritual, young men selected from among the parishioners of the Tsuchiya district go to the Sai River and draw water with hand-held buckets.
They carry the water back to Tsubo Shrine, where the priest offers it to a jar that enshrines a divine spirit.
The amount of water left in the jar is then used to divine the rainfall needed for a good harvest and crop growth in the coming year.
How to take part
The ritual is performed by young men selected from among the parishioners of the local Tsuchiya district.
It has not been confirmed whether general visitors may take part in rituals such as drawing water.
If you wish to observe, it is important to follow local guidance so as not to disrupt the ritual.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tsubo Shrine (Tsuchiya, Yoshitomi Town).
Address Tsuchiya, Yoshitomi Town
Dates and season
- Season
Every year October 14
- 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 / Yoshitomi Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination
Tsubo Shrine’s ritual is said to have begun in Koan 4 (1281), when Tsuchiya Saburoemon discovered a star deity descended from the heavens, leapt into the river, and scooped the deity up in a jar.
It is said that the ritual has continued to the present day since the deity was revered as Tsubo Daimyojin.
In Showa 60 April 1, it was designated an intangible folk cultural property by the town.
Official information
The history section of Yoshitomi Town’s tourism and products website, “Yoshikoi! Yoshitomi,” features Tsubo Shrine and its water-offering ritual (water divination).
You can find information about the ritual, its origins, and its cultural property designation.
Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination at a Glance
Tsubo Shrine’s water-offering ritual and water divination are part of an autumn festival handed down in Tsuchiya, Yoshitomi Town.
Water drawn from the Sai River is offered to a jar that enshrines a divine spirit, and its amount is used to divine rainfall and crop growth in the coming year.
The ritual is said to have begun in Koan 4 (1281), and it is also designated an intangible folk cultural property by the town.
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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