This event has ended! Motomiya Autumn Festival at Adatara Shrine in Fukushima, Japan] What is the female portable shrine, which is rare in the whole country?

  • Fukushima
  • Sightseeing
Makai-mikoshi (portable shrine for women)
Motomiya City, located between Fukushima City and Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture, holds the Motomiya Autumn Festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the fourth Saturday in October every year, centering on the autumnal festival of Adatara Shrine. In this issue, we will introduce the Motomiya Autumn Festival, which is said to be the most popular autumn festival in Motomiya.

What is the Motomiya Autumn Festival?

The Motomiya Autumn Festival, scheduled to be held over three days from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26 in 2025, has been held in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture since 1146 and is a festival with a long history centering on the autumnal festival of the Adatara Shrine. Saki-bayashi (festival music) and taiko drum stands parade through the city with lanterns lit, and the central city area is lined with stalls. The "Chibikko Mikoshi" carried by children and the "Mayumi Mikoshi" carried by women only are must-sees. The "naked mikoshi" carried by men in underclothes is the highlight of the festival.
music at night

About Adatara Shrine

Mt. Adatara, selected as one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, is the object of worship for the people living in Hongu City. Adatara, and the Adatara Shrine is a shrine where visitors can worship Mt. Adatara Shrine enshrines the god of all creation and the ancestral god of regional development, and is associated with such benefits as industrial development, prosperous business, domestic safety, protection from bad luck, and matchmaking. Another unique feature of the shrine is that the ancient steamer "koshiki" is enshrined here. The steamer was worshipped as the god of the area because Mt. Adatara used to emit steam-like plumes of smoke.
Mt. Adatara in autumn leaves

Schedule of "Motomiya Autumn Festival 2025

Date: October 24 (Fri.) to 26 (Sun.), 2025
Venue: Adatara Shrine, central city of Motomiya City

■Friday 24, Yoimatsuri
13:00 Sakihayashi joint starting ceremony "Adachibashi intersection"
17:40 Sakihayashi joint fire-igniting ceremony "Adatara Shrine approach entrance"

■Saturday 25, Hon Matsuri
8:00 Sakihayashi joint running
8:50 Honmiya Ichichu "Kengaku Matsuri Parade" (postponed to 26th in case of rain)
10:00 Mikoshi parade Dedication of Adatara Taiko drum "Adatara Shrine"
11:30 Chibi Mikoshi (postponed to 26th in case of rain) "Departure from Adatabashi intersection"
15:00 Shinyume Mikoshi (postponed to 26th in case of rain) "Departure from Hongu Post Office"
16:30 Naked Mikoshi Departure from Disaster Prevention Center"

■26th(Sun.), Post-Matsuri
8:00 Running of the first festival music
19:30 Joint disbanding ceremony of the first festival music "T-junction in front of the station

Will love be fulfilled? The "Shinyoshi Mikoshi" (portable shrine for women)

The "Mayumi-mikoshi" (portable shrine) that appears on the second day of the festival is a rare portable shrine in Japan that is carried only by women. Dressed in matching yingko hanten, they carry the portable shrine with great vigor, adding color to the festival.

At the Adatara Shrine, people write down a 31-moji love letter about the man they love, tie the letter to the branch of a Japanese spindle tree, and hang the letter on the gate of the man's house. When the flowers begin to change color, your love will be fulfilled. It is said that carrying the mikoshi will bring love fulfillment.
Daytime Maki-Onna-Mikoshi
Makai-myo-mikoshi at night
Motomiya Mayume Mikoshi Association Official Instagram

Naked Mikoshi (portable shrine), a heroic male figure

The departure ceremony of the naked mikoshi is also held at the main festival. The portable shrines and high-hanging lanterns are brought from each district, and following the music and taiko drum performances, lively men in underclothes parade the portable shrines through the city. After the lanterns pass by, the appearance of the portable shrines with loud shouts is a spectacular sight! The naked mikoshi climbs the stone steps of Adatara Shrine, shaking the mikoshi violently and sending the gods back to Adatara Shrine.
Naked portable shrine

Visit "Motomiya Autumn Festival 2025" this autumn!

In this issue, we have introduced the glamorous "Maki-onna Mikoshi" and the heroic "Naked Mikoshi" of the "Motomiya Autumn Festival" held in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture. The Motomiya Autumn Festival, where you can see the symmetrical atmosphere of the mikoshi, is a uniquely Japanese attraction. Why not visit Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture this fall?
Sakihayashi (festival music) and lanterns at night
Motomiya City Tourist Information Site Mizuiro Navi
*All photos are for reference only.
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*The information in this article is current as of August 2025.
*Please check the official website for the latest information.

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