Highlights
- Fixed date every year: 10 November. In 2026 that is a Tuesday, 18:30–21:00 (official listing, as of 2026-09-12)
- 'Shiri-zumo' — contestants stand in a ~1 m washtub 'ring' and bump bottoms in time with festival music until one is pushed out
- Held at Otonashi Shrine, tied to the legend of Minamoto no Yoritomo's secret trysts with Yae-hime; also a matchmaking shrine
Background & story
Legend says Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yae-hime met secretly at Otonashi Shrine. When sacred sake was passed around in the pitch-dark hall, worshippers could not speak, so they pinched the next person's bottom as a signal — hence 'shiri-tsumi'. The bottom-sumo contest was added as a votive event in 1975.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 15 min on foot from JR Ito Station. No parking — use public transport. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Announcements are in Japanese only, but the contest is easy to follow without the language.
- Good for
- culture seekers, groups of friends, solo-goers
Good to know
The shrine sits in a residential area 15 minutes from the station with no parking. November evenings are chilly; bring a layer. To compete you must apply in advance — there is no walk-up entry.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Shiritsumi Matsuri 2026?
- Tuesday 10 November 2026, 18:30–21:00, at Otonashi Shrine in Ito, Shizuoka. The date is fixed on 10 November every year (official listing, as of 2026-09-12).
- What does 'shiritsumi' mean?
- Roughly 'bottom-pinching'. In the dark shrine hall, sake was passed in silence and people pinched the next person's bottom as a signal. Today the highlight is a hip-bumping sumo contest that began in 1975.
- Can visitors join the bottom-sumo contest?
- Only with advance booking through the Ito Tourist Association (+81-557-37-6105). Spectating is free and needs no booking.
Getting there
音無神社 — 静岡県伊東市音無町1-13
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