Funatsu Sho-Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival (Ryuo-mai) 2026

period: October 10, 2026 (Sat) - October 11, 2026 (Sun)
cost: Free to watch
Venue & access: Sho-Hachiman Shrine, Funatsu, Himeji Train: about 12 minutes' walk east from Mizoguchi Station (JR Bantan Line) / Car: about 2.5 km northwest of the Funatsu tollgate on the Bantan Renraku Road

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Why You Should Visit

The autumn festival of Sho-Hachiman Shrine in Funatsu, in the northeast of Himeji. After the portable shrine procession, six festival floats from the parish districts gather in the shrine grounds to jostle and parade. The highlight is the Ryuo-mai (read locally as "Jomaijo"), a Himeji City-designated intangible folk cultural property: a single dancer in a long-nosed mask, a bird-shaped headdress and crimson robes performs with a two-metre halberd, portraying the deity Sarutahiko. The dance is recorded in a document from 1591, so you can see centuries-old ritual dance and lively float parading in the same grounds.

NOTE

Ryuo-mai (Jomaijo)

Performed by the Miyawaki district: one dancer accompanied by five flutes and one drum
The dancer wears a long-nosed mask, a bird-shaped headdress, crimson robes with a triple-comma crest and a green sash, and carries a halberd about 2 m long, portraying Sarutahiko, the deity who led the descent of the heavenly grandson
Himeji City notes that the first half shows the influence of the bugaku piece Enbu and sarugaku ritual performers, and the second half that of the bugaku dance Ryo-o
Designated a Himeji City intangible folk cultural property in 1990 and handed down by the shrine's Ryuo-mai preservation society

Floats

After the portable shrine procession, six festival floats gather in the shrine grounds

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出典: 姫路市文化財課「正八幡神社龍王舞」／兵庫県神社庁「正八幡神社」

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FAQ

How is "Ryuo-mai" read locally?

Locally it is called "Jomaijo" (or "Jomai"). A document from 1591 records it as "Ryuon-mai".

When is it held each year?

On the second Saturday (eve) and Sunday (main day) of October. It used to be held on fixed dates, October 9 and 10.

Can I go by car?

The shrine is about 2.5 km northwest of the Funatsu tollgate on the Bantan Renraku Road. It has a car park, but the number of spaces is not published. Mizoguchi Station on the JR Bantan Line is about a 12-minute walk away.