Tokuwa Festival

Energetic Ondeko (demon drumming) performed by the Aso-gumi group

Tokuwa Festival features Aso-gumi's Ondeko, performed with naginata (a blade weapon attached to a wooden pole), and Ojishi (the big lion), parading through the streets from door to door. The Ondeko group and Ojishi get together at the shrine when the portable shrine returns in the evening. One of the highlights is the neriage, the ascension of the steep stone stairs, at Okura Shrine. As many festival-goers watch, the Ojishi steadily goes up the stairs, and once it reaches the top, darkness completely envelopes the area.