Ine Town Obessan

About this event

Ine Town Obessan is a traditional festival that prays for maritime safety and abundant catches. Every year, the main festival is held on August 20, with the eve festival (Yoimiya) taking place the day before on August 19. During Yoimiya, ceremonial boats set out from the four wards of Kameshima to visit and worship at Ebisu Shrine enshrined on Aoshima Island, while playing Gion festival music on flutes and drums. During the main festival, young people from the four wards of Kameshima selected by lottery board the ceremonial boats, raise banners, and head to Aoshima to pray at Ebisu Shrine, followed by dedicated sumo bouts (children's sumo and youth ceremonial sumo). On the return journey, 'kobariai' (a rowing race) using eight-oared tenma boats takes place, rowing with oars across approximately 1 kilometer of sea from Aoshima to Oura. This 'kobariai' is one of the major highlights of the festival. Aoshima is regarded as a sacred island floating in Ine Bay, where Ebisu Shrine is enshrined.

Venue

Ebisu Shrine

106 Kameshima, Ine-cho, Yosa-gun, Kyoto 626-0424