Obama Hōjō-e

photo by Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

photo by Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

Since 1638, twelve of Obama's twenty-four neighbourhoods have taken turns to parade each year.

Floats, large drums, sacred dances and lion dances pass through the streets of Obama for two days: each year twelve of the city's twenty-four neighbourhoods take turns to put on a performance, so that each one is back in the spotlight once every two editions. The performances derive from Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and arrived here when the cities stopped taking part in it after the Meiji Restoration of 1871.

The Hachiman Shrine in Obama is documented from 1265, and horseback archery during its celebrations is recorded as early as 1405. The modern form of the festival dates from 1638, when the daimyo Sakai Tadakatsu made the shrine the stopping place (御旅所) of the local Gion Matsuri: since then the tradition has continued without interruption for over 380 years. Designated a prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Fukui in 2002.

ℹ️ The Hachiman Shrine is public and can be visited at any time. The festival is held every year on the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the third Monday of September (Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday): in 2026 it falls on 19–20 September.

🚉 Obama · 9 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · hoze-matsuri.jp · hoze-matsuri.jp

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