Mashiko’s festival traditions and the bond between the towns, carried on through a large sake cup
Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony
The 2026 edition of Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/24Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on July 24 / Every year
- Location
- Home of the town in charge (the venue varies by town association)
- Area
- Tochigi Prefecture・Mashiko Town(From Tokyo: approx. 50 min–1 h · 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Required number of participants
- 10 people (men from the next town in charge)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is held at the home of the town in charge on the second day of the Mashiko Gion Festival. The distinctive handover between the towns in charge, involving sacred sake served in a large cup, has been passed down in the community.
About Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony
The Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is a handover ritual held every year on July 24 as part of the Mashiko Gion Festival.
Yasaka Shrine is a subsidiary shrine within the grounds of Kashima Shrine. During the festival, the towns take turns carrying out their duties.
The Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is held at the home of the town in charge and is an important event that carries on the community’s festival traditions.
Source: 認定No.54｜八坂神社祇園祭（益子祇園祭・天王祭） | 益子町公式ホームページ / 【終了】益子祇園祭 | とちぎ旅ネット〜栃木の観光旅行情報サイト
Festival highlights
The highlight is the sacred sake ceremony, performed with a large sake cup.
In reference to the 365 days of the year, 3 sho, 6 go, and 5 shaku of warmed sake—about 6.5 liters—is poured into the large cup, and 10 men from the next town in charge drink it in 3 rounds.
It is counted as one of the Kanto region’s 3 great unusual festivals and is known as an event that offers prayers for bountiful harvests and freedom from illness and misfortune.
Source: 益子町八坂神社の祇園祭（栃木県／益子町）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more.
Mashiko’s festival traditions and the bond between the towns, carried on through a large sake cup
What to expect
The event is held at the home of the town in charge on July 24, the second day of the Mashiko Gion Festival.
As a ritual for handing over festival duties, 10 men from the next town in charge drink the sacred sake from a large cup in 3 rounds.
On the days before and after, processions and returns, as well as and processions, take place, but the central feature of the Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is this handover ritual between the towns in charge.
How to take part
The Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is a festival event held at the home of the town currently in charge.
The 10 men who drink the sacred sake are said to be from the next town in charge.
Whether general visitors may take part in the ritual, and the areas from which it may be viewed, vary by venue. Please follow the guidance provided at the site.
Location and access
- Venue
Home of the town in charge (the venue varies by town association)
Event venue 栃木県益子町 当番町の当家
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, it is scheduled to take place on July 24 (Friday).
The Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony falls on the second day of the Mashiko Gion Festival, which is scheduled to run from July 23 (Thursday) through the 25th (Saturday).
Source: 益子町へようこそ | 益子町公式ホームページ
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 Tochigi Prefecture / Mashiko Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue for the Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony varies by town association, and may not be the same as the venue for the festival events held at Kashima Shrine.
If you wish to watch, check in advance where the home of the town in charge is and whether viewing is permitted.
It is important to follow the guidance of the festival organizers and observe quietly so as not to disrupt the proceedings.
Nearby attractions
益子参考館
栃木県益子町にある濱田庄司の蒐集品を展示している民藝博物館
Origins and History of Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony
The Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is an intangible folk cultural property designated by Mashiko Town and passed down from the Edo period.
At the Mashiko Gion Festival, 5 parishioner town associations take turns being in charge each year, and the ceremony has been passed down as a ritual associated with handing over duties to the next town.
The festival as a whole began around 1705 against a backdrop of epidemics and crop damage, and has continued as a festival praying for good harvests and happiness.
Official information
The official URL for Kashima Shrine is listed as the official source for festival information.
Information about the festival’s cultural heritage and schedule is also available on the official Mashiko Town website.
Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony at a Glance
The Yasaka Shrine Sacred Sake Drinking Ceremony is a handover ritual held at the home of the town in charge on the second day of the Mashiko Gion Festival.
A highlight is the distinctive format in which 10 men from the next town in charge drink the sacred sake from a large cup in 3 rounds, in reference to the 365 days of the year.
It has been passed down since the Edo period as an intangible folk cultural property designated by Mashiko Town, along with prayers for bountiful harvests and freedom from illness and misfortune.
Source: 文化財一覧 | 益子町公式ホームページ
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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