Ohara Hadaka Festival is a spectacular traditional festival held every year on September 23 and 24 in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, formerly known as Ohara Town. The festival is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the local community and is famous for its powerful scenes featuring portable shrines, the sea, and traditional Shinto rituals.
One of the highlights is the dramatic sight of portable shrines being carried into the ocean. The combination of powerful chanting, traditional songs, and energetic processions creates an unforgettable festival experience for both local residents and visitors.
The Ohara Hadaka Festival brings together 19 shrines from three districts of Isumi City: Ohara, Tokai, and Naniwa. Each shrine participates with one to three portable shrines, known as mikoshi.
On the first day, the mikoshi participate in an event known as Shiobumi, in which the portable shrines are carried into the sea. On the second day, the festival concludes with the spectacular Daibetsurei-shiki, a ceremonial farewell gathering featuring energetic mikoshi processions.
The first day begins with each shrine carrying its mikoshi out of the shrine grounds in a ceremony known as Miyadashi. The ten mikoshi from the Ohara district then gather at Kaizuka Kashima Shrine, regarded as their parent shrine, where a traditional Buddhist-Shinto ritual called Horaku is performed.
At Ohara Fishing Port, visitors can see powerful mikoshi performances, including scenes in which the portable shrines are dramatically lifted high into the air. A special ceremony praying for an abundant harvest and a plentiful catch of fish is also held.
The most spectacular event of the festival is Shiobumi. The 19 mikoshi gather at Ohara Swimming Beach before being carried into the Pacific Ocean.
Despite the waves, the bearers charge into the sea with the mikoshi and energetically lift them above the water. The powerful sight of the portable shrines moving through the surf is one of the festival’s defining scenes and attracts many spectators.
On the second day, the mikoshi are carried through the local communities in an event known as Muramawari, or village procession. This tradition is said to have continued since the period when Japan’s society was traditionally divided into the classes of warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The procession also serves as an opportunity for members of the community to come together.
In the Ohara district, the mikoshi travel through the shopping streets before gathering at Ohara Hachiman Shrine in the afternoon.
From evening into the night, the Daibetsurei-shiki marks the climax of the festival. The mikoshi are carried energetically around the gathering area while traditional farewell songs are sung, creating an intense and emotional finale to the two-day celebration.
The exact origins of the Ohara Hadaka Festival are unknown, but the tradition is believed to date back to before the Edo period.
An ema wooden votive plaque preserved at Oitakiuchi Shrine depicts ten mikoshi and is dated to 1864. This provides historical evidence that a large-scale festival involving portable shrines was already being held in the area during the Edo period.
Kohama Hachiman Shrine also has a tradition stating that the shrine was moved to its present location in 1145. If this tradition is historically accurate, the festival may have roots extending back more than 900 years.
Records from the Naniwa and Tokai districts also contain evidence of traditional events dating back to the Muromachi and Edo periods, highlighting the long cultural history of the region.
In 2010, a lightning strike caused an accident during the festival, resulting in participants suffering various injuries. As a result, the festival was canceled for the first time in its history.
The festival was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of COVID-19.
The Ohara Hadaka Festival is a major local celebration that preserves centuries of religious traditions and community culture. The energetic mikoshi processions, powerful ocean ritual, traditional songs, and enthusiasm of local residents make this festival a distinctive cultural experience.
For travelers interested in traditional Japanese festivals, the sight of mikoshi being carried into the Pacific Ocean is especially memorable. Visiting Isumi during the festival period offers a chance to experience a lively local tradition and discover an important part of the cultural heritage of Chiba.