Fukushima Travel – Rice-Planting Festival – July 6, Kitakata

Experience authentic Fukushima travel and cultural tour moments at the Keitoku Inari Shrine Rice-Planting Festival (Keitoku Inari Jinja Otaue Matsuri)—a traditional rice-planting ritual deeply rooted in Aizu’s heritage.

📅 Event Overview

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025 (First Sunday in July) hosi-na.jp
Location: Keitoku Inari Shrine, Keitoku-cho, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: ~10 min by car from JR Kitakata Station; ~35 min from Aizu-Wakamatsu IC on the Banetsu Expressway
Admission: Free to the public

🔍 The Meaning Behind Otaue Matsuri

The Otaue Matsuri (rice-planting festival) is a Shinto ritual offering gratitude for the year’s rice planting, praying for a bountiful harvest. Keitoku Inari’s event—alongside nearby Isasumi Shrine—holds the distinction of being one of the northernmost rice-planting rituals in Japan, and is recognized as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

i-na.jp+5

🎎 Highlights of the Festival

Shrine Procession & Mikoshi
- The festival begins at Keitoku Inari Shrine, where a portable mikoshi shrine is carried through the neighborhood and into the symbolic rice field—connecting spiritual blessing and agricultural tradition.
Rice-Planting by Saotome (Festival Maidens)
- Young women, known as saotome, perform ceremonial rice planting in rhythm with traditional rice-planting songs, singing utaue to invoke a prosperous harvest youtube.com+5
Unique White Fox (Byakko) Ceremony
- This distinct custom features white fox children (boys wearing fox masks) and seedling tossers, adding charm and regional uniqueness to the ritual.
- Decorative “Deko” Dolls
  - Placed along the field’s ridges are rice-field dolls (“deko”), believed to act as spiritual vessels—an exclusive feature seen only in Aizu’s rice planting rituals.

🌱 Cultural & Historical Significance

Dates back to Medieval Japan, revived during the Tenpō era (1830s), and has endured through centuries of agricultural change .
Since 2019, Keitoku Inari Shrine’s Otaue Matsuri has been officially recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property along with Isasumi Shrine’s festival snapjapan.com+2
Travel & Visitor Tips

Arrive early for the shrine procession and rice-planting ritual—typically mid-morning.
Best photo moments: Procession in the shrine grounds, saotome at work in the water, and children in fox masks performing playful acts.
Combine with nearby attractions: Explore Aizu-Wakamatsu, sample kitakata ramen, or tour historic temples and sake breweries in the city.

✨ Why It’s a Must-Visit

The Keitoku Inari Shrine Otaue Matsuri provides travelers with a rare, authentic cultural experience rooted in centuries-old agrarian rites. Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions of Fukushima travel, witness the heartfelt dedication of local communities, and capture memories of Japan’s living cultural heritage at its most heartfelt.

For those planning a Japan summer trip, this joyful blend of spirituality, rural scenery, and community spirit in Kitakata offers a deeply meaningful and unforgettable cultural moment.

https://www.city.kitakata.fukushima.jp/soshiki/kikaku/50377.html