Onomichi Betcha Festival 2026
Three costumed demons roam the streets of hillside Onomichi, tapping children with sticks to bring them good health.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/11/01 – 2026/11/03
- Where
- Ushitora Shrine and Onomichi city streets（Onomichi City, Hiroshima）
- City
- Hiroshima
- Getting there
- About 10 minutes' walk from JR Onomichi Station.
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Ushitora Shrine / Onomichi Betcha Festival committee
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 10 minutes' walk from JR Onomichi Station. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families, groups of friends
Highlights
- Three costumed demons — Beta, Soba and Shoki — parading the streets
- Children tapped with staffs for good health and luck
- Lively three-day street action through historic Onomichi
Background & story
Begun in the early 1800s as a prayer to ward off plague, the festival's three demon figures are said to bestow good health on the children they strike.
Good to know
Parents bring children to be tapped for luck — expect lively, slightly chaotic street action.