Become a Supporter of the Tambasasayama "Hata Festival"!

The "Hata Festival" is held at Sasaba Shrine in the Hatada District of Tambasasayama City. It is one of the three major festivals in the Sasayama region and has a history spanning nearly 400 years.

This traditional festival has been carefully preserved for generations. However, due to depopulation and an aging population, there is now a shortage of participants, making it difficult to carry out the festival's floats and portable shrines.

Therefore, we are looking for supporters who are willing to contribute to the community while fully enjoying the festival, as outlined below.

＜View Past Hata Festivals (YouTube 1)＞

＜View Past Hata Festivals (YouTube 2)＞

Meeting and Dismissal

• Meeting: October 5th (Sat) 13:30 at JR Sasayamaguchi Station
• Dismissal: October 6th (Sun) 16:30 at JR Sasayamaguchi Station
  • Day participation is also possible.
  • There may be adjustments depending on participants' transportation methods.

Venue

Around Sasaba Shrine and Mitake Hall (92-3 Seri, Tambasasayama, Hyogo Prefecture https://g.co/kgs/Xhk99Pu)

Number of Participants

Approximately 10 people

Application Deadline

September 14th (Sat) 19:00

Participation Fee

Free of charge ※If staying overnight, please bring your own breakfast, etc.

Schedule

Evening Festival: October 5th, 2024 (Saturday)

• 13:30 Gather at JR Sasayamaguchi Station, travel to Mitake Hall by shuttle
• 14:00 Guidance (Explanation of the festival's origin, regional overview, and important notes)
• 15:00 Move to each settlement, travel to Sasaba Shrine with the floats and portable shrines
• 18:00 Shrine entry
• 20:30 Return to each settlement with the floats
• 21:00 Return to Mitake Hall, change clothes, etc.
• 21:30 Travel back to JR Sasayamaguchi Station by shuttle, dismissal (overnight participants can use bathing facilities)

Main Festival: October 6th, 2024 (Sunday)

• 8:00 Gather at JR Sasayamaguchi Station, travel to Mitake Hall by shuttle
• 9:00 Move to each settlement, travel to Sasaba Shrine with the floats
• 10:00 Shrine entry
• 12:00 Lunch
• 15:00 Return to each settlement with the floats
• 16:00 Return to Mitake Hall, change clothes, etc.
• 16:30 Travel back to JR Sasayamaguchi Station by shuttle, dismissal

If you are coming by car, please use the Mitake Hall parking lot.

In case of rain or other circumstances that prevent participation, we will notify you by 6:00 AM on the day.

What to Bring

• Festival clothing (T-shirt, pants, sneakers, etc. Light-colored pants are preferable, but any simple outfit is fine.)
• Change of clothes (you will sweat a lot)
• Towel
• Drinks
• (For overnight participants) Toiletries, breakfast for Sunday morning ※There are no convenience stores within walking distance ※Happi coats will be provided.

Background of the Recruitment

Hatada District in Tambasasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, is a village with about 800 residents surrounded by nature, where the "Hata Festival" is held every year.

During the evening festival on Saturday, floats adorned with lanterns and portable shrines gather from 10 settlements. The shouts echoing in the shrine grounds and the swaying lanterns create a magnificent and magical atmosphere. On Sunday, during the main festival, there is a procession featuring floats and, as a grand finale, a horseback archery performance.

However, in recent years, depopulation and aging have led to a decline in participants, making it difficult to maintain and continue the festival. Currently, only about half of the 10 floats and 7 drum-carrying portable shrines can be brought out.

We are determined to preserve the traditional Hata Festival. Since 2011, we have been engaging students from Kobe University to join the festival, and in some years, over 30 students have participated, working together with local residents to continue the festival. However, the festival has been discontinued due to the impact of COVID-19.

This time, we would like to invite a wider range of people to experience the joy of the "Hata Festival" and the charm of the Hatada District, and to support the continuation of our traditional culture.

Do you think festivals are just for watching? When you actually participate and experience it, you discover a new charm unlike any before. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the view from within the festival procession!

Organized by

Mitake Village Development Council

Hata Festival Executive Committee