🏮 Suichu Tsuna Hiki

水中綱引き

Mihama, Fukui (Hinata Coast) · Every year in mid January

123 days to go
Rooms around Mihama, Fukui fill up while the festival is on.

The Hinata Underwater Tug-of-War, held on the third Sunday of January in Hinata, Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture, is a nationally selected intangible folk cultural property passed down as a Shinto ritual to pray for a bountiful catch. Local young men enter the water around Hinata Bridge, divided into east and west teams, and pull against each other on a thick rope. The origin of this event traces back to a legend that when removing earth and sand washed away by a disaster, a giant serpent appeared and hindered the work, and it was prevented by stretching a long rope. The highlight is the underwater tug-of-war, where the young men compete with the force to tear the rope apart. When one side's rope breaks, that rope is sent out to sea as an offering to the sea god, and a bountiful catch is prayed for.

Getting there

About 50 minutes by bus from JR Tsuruga Station, get off at the Hinata bus stop and it is immediately there. Alternatively, about 30 minutes from the Hokuriku Expressway Tsuruga IC via National Route 27. Parking available.