On June 14th, rice planting will be held as a Shinto ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City.
``Otaue Shinji'' is a ritual in which seedlings are planted by hand in an ancient rice field in the grounds of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. It has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property.
🌾 Rice planting in the rice fields within the temple grounds
Sumiyoshi Taisha is the headquarters of approximately 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines nationwide, and is said to have been founded in 211 (during the reign of Empress Jingu). Although he is known as the god of safe navigation, he has also been worshiped as the god of agriculture since ancient times.
The Otaue Shinji ritual is held at the first main shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, after which rice planting begins in the rice fields within the shrine grounds. Prior to rice planting, various performing arts are performed, including a procession of warriors called Furyu Musha, rice planting dance, and Sumiyoshi dance.
The rice planting itself is carried out by women called ``kaeueme'' who wear matching costumes. The act of planting seedlings lined up in a row to the beat of drums and songs is not only agricultural work, but also an offering to the gods.
Points of appreciation
This is the point to see the Otaue ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.
- Date and time:In 2026, it will be held from 13:00 on Sunday, June 14th. The festival is followed by rice planting and performing arts offerings. The whole trip takes about 2 to 3 hours.
- Dedication of performing arts:Before and after rice planting, samurai parades, rice planting dances, Sumiyoshi dances, etc. are held. Sumiyoshi Odori is a unique dance that has been handed down at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and can be seen on this ritual day.
- Location of Ota:Ota is located within the grounds of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and can be viewed from around the rice field. It's not a large venue, so it's best to arrive early to get a good view.
- access:3 minutes walk from Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Railway, and right in front of Sumiyoshi Torii-mae Station on the Hankai Line. Approximately 10 minutes from central Osaka (Namba) by Nankai train, it is a place where you can see traditional agricultural rituals even though it is in the city.
⛩️ Rice cultivation ritual in the city
What makes Sumiyoshi Taisha's Otaue Shinto ritual unique is that it is held in the middle of Osaka's urban area. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is located about 10 minutes by train from Namba, and is surrounded by buildings and residences. There are rice fields within the city, where seedlings are planted in June and ripen in the fall.
Some shrines in Japan have rice fields within their grounds, and watch the rice grow as a ritual throughout the year. The Otaue Shinto ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is one of the most important rituals held during the rice planting season. If you just visit Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine while sightseeing in Osaka, you can see the vermilion-lacquered Taiko Bridge and the unique Sumiyoshi-zukuri architecture of the main shrine, but on June 14th, you can also witness the rice-planting ritual that has been going on for over 1,000 years.