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Festivals and Events
Daiho-jinja Shrine
Positioned along the Old Nakasendo Road about 0.5km northwest of JR Ritto Station, Daiho-jinja Shrine bestows "defense against unlucky directions, protection from evil, and health" unto those who pray there.
It is said that this area is where the poet Basho composed the poem "In Heso Village, Wheat stalks still a greenish hue, Late spring", and there is a stone monument here commemorating such. Standing amongst the old trees in the sprawling grounds is the shrine, and in early April the cherry trees lining the path burst into full bloom, creating a harmonious scene.
○Reitaisai Festival
Every year on May 3, on the eve of the festival, children participate in a tug of war game, and a taiko drum concert is given. On May 4, the day of the Reitaisai Festival, courageous men and women carry around 3 mikoshi portable shrines, including the Satsuki Mikoshi, and children are taken to visit the shrine.
○Somokusai Festival
Held every year in October on the Sunday before the 18th of the month, the Somokusai Festival stems from a time when Ritto's Kitanakakoji Village and Futamachicho Village competed for rights over water. Children from both villages competed in a sumo tournament, the head priest at the time mediating the event, and it is said that the conflict was settled smoothly. This practice is the origin of this festival. Both sides hold 3 matches. During the 3rd match, the sumo referee yells "matta!" or "wait!". He then stops the match, saying "we will leave this match for next year." This sumo conducted as a Shinto ritual looks the same as it did long ago, but the tradition of stopping the bout and declaring a draw to prevent lingering resentment can be taken as a sign of the wisdom of the ancestors.
＜Important Cultural Property＞
Honden Sanctuary of the Ofuki-jinja Shrine on the Precincts of Daiho-jinja Shrine (the Komainu Lion Dogs Important Cultural Property currently is being entrusted to the Kyoto National Museum.
Inquiries：Daiho-jinja Shrine
TEL：077-552-2093
Access：Ritto City, Heso 7-5-5MAP
Parking spaces：50
Otsuki Taisha Shrine / Otsue Festival
Otsuki Taisha Shrine has retained its name and prominence since it was mentioned in the Engishiki Jinmyocho, a historical list of Shinto shrines from the Heian period. The main shrine built in 1519 (Eishō 16) is designated by the Japanese government as an Important Cultural Property and enshrines the Okuninushi no Mikoto ‘Great Lord of the Land’. According to old myths, rabbits were seen as the god’s divine messengers, and bunny lovers will enjoy the shrine’s rabbit-shaped charms and carved stone statues. The grounds also house a group of ancient burial mounds from the late Kofun period called the Otsuki Taisha burial mounds. There are remains that are thought to be part of the stone structure that made up the remains and the stone chamber of a burial mound.
The Otsue Festival's Ritual Performing Arts, dedicated every year on May 5, is a valuable festival that brings the performing arts of the Late Middle Ages into the modern age. The festival is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as one of the “Omi Konan Sanyare Dance”.
TEL：077-522-9084
Access：1200 Shimodoyama, Ritto CityMAP
Take Teisan-Konan Kotsu Bus bound for Kusatsu Shako from Kusatsu Station to Yamaderakaikan-mae stop. Get off there and it is about a 9-minute walk away.
10 minutes drive from Ritto Interchange
Parking spaces：7