White-painted Jizo figures run through Akasaki, carrying on prayers to the mountain deity
Yama no Kami Kanko
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Within the Akasaki district (from the kōyado to Dainichido Hall)
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Tsuruga 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Age restrictions
- Elementary-school boys from the district take part in the event
- Last updated
- 2026/11/13
The Yama no Kami Kanko, passed down in the Akasaki district of Tsuruga City, is a traditional event in which boys carry offerings while shouting and transform into Jizo on the way back.
About Yama no Kami Kanko
The Yama no Kami Kanko is a traditional event passed down in the Akasaki district of Tsuruga City.
Elementary-school boys from the district run from the kōyado to Dainichido Hall at the foot of the mountain, carrying offerings to the mountain deity.
The event is said to originate in a legend in which the yōkai Nue ravaged the fields, and residents prayed to the kami and Buddha and defeated it. Prayers are offered for the peace of the community and the good health of the children.
Festival highlights
A distinctive feature is the sight of boys running through the district in the cold wind, bare-chested and wearing white shorts, to deliver offerings.
On the way back, they paint their faces and bodies white, dress as Jizo, and run again.
At Dainichido Hall, they shout “taishō,” “1st,” “2nd,” and “3rd.” Another highlight is when they throw the “tsuto,” made of or straw, at the base of a pine tree.
White-painted Jizo figures run through Akasaki, carrying on prayers to the mountain deity
What to expect
The boys gather at the kōyado and set off after eating rice balls known as chikara-meshi.
Carrying shitogi and tsuto, they shout phrases such as “Yāma no kanko no matsuri yai!” as they race uphill to Dainichido Hall, just under 1 kilometer away.
After praying and making offerings, they smear shitogi on their faces and bodies, dress as Jizo, and return to the kōyado.
How to take part
対象年齢：区内の小学生男児が行事を担う
Location and access
- Venue and address
Within the Akasaki district of Tsuruga City (from the kōyado to Dainichido Hall at the foot of the mountain)
Address Akasaki, Tsuruga City
Accommodation and hotels PR
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Nearby attractions
みなとつるが山車会館
福井県敦賀市にある博物館
人道の港敦賀ムゼウム
福井県敦賀市にある資料館
敦賀市立博物館
福井県敦賀市にある博物館
旧敦賀港駅舎
福井県敦賀市にある建築物
氣比神宮
福井県敦賀市にある神社
紙わらべ資料館
福井県敦賀市にある、高木栄子の和紙人形を展示する美術館
金ヶ崎緑地
福井県敦賀市にある海浜公園
Kanegasaki Shrine
福井県敦賀市にある神社
Origins and History of Yama no Kami Kanko
The Yama no Kami Kanko is a traditional event in the Akasaki district, said to date back to the Muromachi period.
The event is said to originate in a legend in which the yōkai Nue ravaged the fields in the community and residents prayed to the kami and Buddha and defeated it.
Against the backdrop of this legend, a custom has been passed down in which elementary-school boys from the district carry offerings from the kōyado to Dainichido Hall, then put on shitogi and dress as Jizo.
Yama no Kami Kanko at a Glance
The Yama no Kami Kanko is a traditional event said to have continued since the Muromachi period in the Akasaki district of Tsuruga City.
Elementary-school boys carry offerings from the kōyado to Dainichido Hall, shouting as they run.
After praying, they smear shitogi on their faces and bodies, dress as Jizo, and return to the kōyado. Through this distinctive custom, prayers are offered for the peace of the community and the good health of the children.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/13
