A Hofu ritual entrusting gratitude and hopes for a good harvest to 3 rounds of laughter
Warai-ko (Shinto Ritual)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/12/06Scheduled
- Location
- Omata Hachimangu Shrine
- Area
- Yamaguchi Prefecture・Hofu City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Warai-ko, passed down in the Daido-Omata area of Hofu City, is a distinctive in which members of the association hold branches and laugh together 3 times. Gratitude for the harvest and prayers for a good harvest next year are expressed through powerful laughter.
About Warai-ko (Shinto Ritual)
The Warai-ko is a Shinto ritual passed down in the Daido-Omata area of Hofu City.
Dressed in formal montsuki and hakama, association members hold sakaki branches and laugh loudly, expressing gratitude for that year’s harvest and praying for a good harvest the next year.
This tradition, passed down through the local community, also carries the meaning of forgetting the hardships and sorrows of the past year.
Source: 笑い講(神事)｜イベント｜【公式】山口県観光/旅行サイト おいでませ山口へ / 大道地区の概要 - 防府市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the moment when members of the association, dressed in formal montsuki and hakama, raise their voices in laughter together while holding sakaki branches.
The distinctive ritual of exchanging “Waa-ha-ha!” laughter 3 times is a memorable feature of this ceremony.
Gratitude and prayers for a good harvest, along with the wish to forget the hardships of the past year, are expressed through laughter.
A Hofu ritual entrusting gratitude and hopes for a good harvest to 3 rounds of laughter
What to expect
During the ritual, association members wear montsuki and hakama, hold sakaki branches, and laugh in unison.
The laughter takes place 3 times and signifies rejoicing in this year’s harvest, praying for a good harvest next year, and forgetting the hardships and sorrows of the past year.
According to the 2026 event information, the event begins at 11 a.m., and the laughing ritual is scheduled for around 1 p.m.
How to take part
The association members, dressed in formal montsuki and hakama and holding sakaki branches, are at the center of the ritual.
No information is provided on whether general visitors may join as members of the association or take part in the laughing ritual.
If you wish to watch, please follow the venue’s guidance and staff instructions so as not to disrupt the ritual.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Omata Hachimangu (1143 Daido-Omata, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
- Train and bus
About 5 minutes by car from Daido Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line.
- By car
It is about 15 minutes by car from the Hofu-higashi IC and about 15 minutes by car from the Hofu-nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway.
- Parking
Parking is available for general visitors.
Address 1143 Omata, Daido, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Dates and season
In 2026, it will be held on December 6 (Sunday).
The event as a whole begins at 11 a.m., and the central laughing ritual is scheduled to take place from around 1 p.m.
The venue is Omata Hachimangu.
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 Yamaguchi Prefecture / Hofu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As association members conduct the central part of the ritual, please respect the proceedings and watch from the designated area.
The laughing ritual is scheduled for around 1 p.m., but the start time and proceedings may change depending on conditions on the day.
Parking is available for general use, but please follow directions on site.
Nearby attractions
Nearby points of interest include Nagasawa Pond, the grave of Masujiro Omura, the Suzeni Local History Museum, the Saba River, and Mukaiyama No. 3 Kofun, among others.
If you plan to visit these places along with the ritual, it is best to check each site's opening status, hours, and transport conditions individually.
The distance and walking time from the festival venue are not provided.
三田尻塩田記念産業公園
山口県防府市にある展示館
毛利氏庭園
山口県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
毛利邸
山口県防府市にある毛利宗家の本邸
防府天満宮
山口県防府市にある神社
防府市文化財郷土資料館
山口県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Warai-ko (Shinto Ritual)
The Warai-ko is a Shinto ritual in the Daido-Omata area that is said to have begun in the Kamakura period.
Passed down in the community for many years, it is still known as an event expressing gratitude for a good harvest and praying for a good harvest the following year.
Hofu City designated it an intangible folk cultural property on December 23 of Showa 44.
Source: 市指定文化財 - 防府市公式ホームページ
Official information
Event details can be found on the Warai-ko (Shinto Ritual) page of the Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism and travel website, Oidemase Yamaguchi e.
It lists the venue, event date and time, access, parking, and contact information.
The Hofu City official website introduces the Warai-ko as a city-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Warai-ko (Shinto Ritual) at a Glance
The Warai-ko is a Shinto ritual passed down in the Daido-Omata area of Hofu City, expressing gratitude for the harvest and prayers for a good harvest through laughter.
Its highlight is the nationally rare practice of association members holding sakaki branches and laughing together 3 times.
In 2026, it will be held at Omata Hachimangu on December 6, with the laughing ritual scheduled for around 1 p.m.
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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