The “Onta Festival” is an event where the 12 deities enshrined at Aso Shrine form a procession on four portable shrines (mikoshi) and tour the rice paddies around the shrine.
During the procession of about 200 people, including women in all-white garments (Unari), field songs are chanted, and the procession stops at two temporary resting places (otabisho). Here, a rice planting ceremony is performed where rice seedlings are thrown toward the roof of the mikoshi.
The Onta Festival is popular not only with locals but also with many tourists. During this time, the area around the shrine is bustling with the festival atmosphere.
Access Information
Location: Aso Shrine
Address: 3083-1 Miyaji, Ichinomiya-machi, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Organizer/Operator: Aso Shrine Office
Organizer/Operator Phone Number: 0967-22-0064
Expected End Date: Late July