The Inoko festival, held on the "Ino" (Boar) day of the tenth month in the old lunar calendar (currently November), was once a familiar custom to mark the beginning of winter preparations and to eat Inoko mochi. Since the character "亥" represents a boar, this festival is held as a celebration of gratitude for the harvest and a prayer for prosperity.

In Tambasasayama City, children go around the community singing the "Inoko Song" while striking the ground with a mallet made of straw, praying for good health, household safety, and prosperity.

At around 6 PM, children from the Taniyama district gather at the local community center and head to the guardian deity’s shrine, where they sing the Inoko song while pounding the ground with their handmade straw mallets as an offering.

After that, they visit dozens of homes in the Taniyama district, energetically singing and pounding the ground, even in the cold November weather. The community warmly expresses their gratitude to the children.

Even when residents are not at home, the children continue their ritual, singing and striking the ground to pray for good health and a bountiful harvest.

This tradition is a prime example of how Tambasasayama City preserves its deep-rooted customs and cultural heritage. Beyond its well-known landmarks, the city is filled with hidden gems that showcase its rich traditions.