Kameoka’s prayers for protection from misfortune, entrusted to red-and-white bell ropes
Yakuyoke Kigan-sai
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year in January / Every year
- Location
- Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Kameoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Age restrictions
- Men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years)
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
At Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine, men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate red-and-white cotton bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune. It is held every year in January and is described as an annual event passed down through the Kameoka community.
About Yakuyoke Kigan-sai
The Yakuyoke Kigan-sai is an event at Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine where men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate red-and-white cotton bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune.
Held every year in January as a , it is considered one of the annual events that sustain local religious traditions.
Through dedications and shrine visits, people pray to ward off misfortune and enjoy good health.
The venue is Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine in Shinomura, Shino-cho, Kameoka City.
Festival highlights
One distinctive feature is that men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate bell ropes made of red-and-white cotton.
Donors write their names on the bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune and good health.
Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine is also described as the place where Ashikaga Takauji raised his banner, bringing a historical dimension to the place of prayer.
The grounds also contain an Ekijinja shrine, which is said to embody prayers for the eradication of epidemics.
Kameoka’s prayers for protection from misfortune, entrusted to red-and-white bell ropes
What to expect
At the event, men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate red-and-white cotton bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune.
Information says that donors write their names on the bell ropes.
The prayers seek to ward off misfortune and wish for good health.
It is also mentioned that street stalls may be set up on the shrine grounds on the day of the reisai, though this should be confirmed.
How to take part
Men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate red-and-white cotton bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune.
It is an event in which people visit Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine to make a dedication.
No information is provided about dedication reception hours, how to apply, or fees.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine (4 Hachiman-ura, Shinomura, Shino-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture)
- Train and bus
From Kameoka Station on the JR Sagano Line, take a Keihan Kyoto Kotsu bus to Shino, then walk about 5 minutes.
Address 4 Hachiman-ura, Shinomura, Shino-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year in January
- 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 Kyoto Prefecture / Kameoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions listed include Hosenji Zen Center, Big Smile Hozugawa Rafting, Hozugawa Riverside Park Barbecue Area, the Kameoka City Museum of Culture and History, and the ruins of Tanba Kameyama Castle.
The straight-line distances from the venue are listed as 1.0 km to Hosenji Zen Center, 2.6 km to the Kameoka City Museum of Culture and History, and 3.0 km to the ruins of Tanba Kameyama Castle.
亀岡市文化資料館
京都府亀岡市の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Izumo Daijingū
京都府亀岡市にある神社
Origins and History of Yakuyoke Kigan-sai
According to an introductory article, Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine was founded by Minamoto no YoriYoshi in 1071 and is also known as the place where Ashikaga Takauji raised his banner.
The Yakuyoke Kigan-sai is described as a reisai held at this historic shrine every year in January.
It is said that men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune and good health.
The Ekijinja shrine within the grounds is also said to embody prayers for the eradication of epidemics.
Official information
The Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation’s official website event page lists the Yakuyoke Kigan-sai venue, address, transportation, and contact information.
Yakuyoke Kigan-sai at a Glance
The Yakuyoke Kigan-sai is an annual event held at Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine in January. Men and women in the years before, during, or after their yakudoshi (unlucky years) dedicate red-and-white cotton bell ropes and pray for protection from misfortune and good health.
The venue is at 4 Hachiman-ura, Shinomura, Shino-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. You can get there from Kameoka Station by bus and on foot.
Shinomura Hachimangu Shrine is also described as the place where Ashikaga Takauji raised his banner.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
