🏮 Obi Joka Matsuri

飫肥城下祭り

Nichinan, Miyazaki (Obi Castle Area) · Every year on 29 October

Traditional performing arts

45 days to go
Rooms around Nichinan, Miyazaki fill up while the festival is on.

The Obi Castle Town Festival is held around the ruins of Obi Castle in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, over two days on a Saturday and Sunday in October each year. Known as the castle town of the Ito clan's 51,000 koku domain and called "Little Kyoto of Kyushu," it is an autumn tradition in Obi, and the area around Obi Castle bustles as the main venue. The history of this place goes back to the Edo period, and at the festival the local dance "Taihei Odori," a folk performing art designated by Miyazaki Prefecture, is performed. The dancers, in the Genroku-era stylish attire of a folded woven hat with a large red cord, a kimono worn with a sword thrust through the belt, and an inro at the waist, convey the appearance of an older era to the present. On the first day, hayuma (fast horse) and Taihei Odori are performed along with stage events, and on the second day the "Jidai Emaki Parade" features a warrior procession of samurai generals, female warriors, and a princess walk through the town of Obi. Together with local performing arts, the castle town is vividly adorned.

Getting there

About 5 minutes by car or about 20 minutes on foot from JR Obi Station. From JR Miyazaki Station, take the Miyazaki Kotsu bus bound for "Obi" for about 2 hours 10 minutes, get off at "Obi Joka" and walk 4 minutes. About 15 minutes by car from the Miyazaki Expressway's Nichinan Togo IC.