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A unique traditional festival featuring a giant tug-of-war between local teams
Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture
In Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture, the Hanayu Festival is held every May 4. Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Asset, this traditional festival is famous for its two days of rope-making followed by a giant tug-of-war.
During the Hanayu Festival, locals make two giant ropes, each with a circumference of two meters and weighing two tons, using wisteria roots softened in the town’s river for a few days. The tug-of-war takes place inside the onsen district, where the East Team and the West Team confront each other. Anyone is welcome to take part once the two ropes are tied together. It is said that if the East Team wins, the harvest will be good, and if the West Team wins, commerce will prosper.
How to get there
From Kansai International Airport, take the JR Haruka Limited Express train to Shin-Osaka Station (about 52 minutes), then transfer to the JR Super Hakuto Limited Express train to Kurayoshi Station (about 3 hours). From Kurayoshi Station, take the city bus to Misasa Onsen (about 45 minutes).
Misasa, Misasa-cho, Touhaku-gun, Tottori-ken
