Held every year on August 15 in the Dainyu district of Nijo, Itoshima, this traditional Obon event centers on a giant rope made from wild mountain vines (kazura). The rope is used in a tug-of-war held in front of Dainyu Hakusan Shrine, where participants divide into a youth team and an adults-and-children team.
According to local tradition, the tug-of-war represents a struggle between Buddha, who tries to save the souls of the dead from falling into hell, and demons determined to pull them back. After a best-of-three contest, the rope is cut in two. The losing demons’ rope is thrown into the sea, while the winning Buddha’s rope is laid out to form a sumo ring for a children’s sumo tournament. Passed down through generations, this powerful yet unpretentious Obon tradition remains a distinctive part of the local community’s cultural heritage.
（一社）糸島市観光協会
- Aug 15, 2026 (Sat) *Held in light rain
- 15:00~17:30
- Free viewing
- Onyu Hakusan Shrine
- 2564 Nijo Fukui, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
- Website
（一社）糸島市観光協会