Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 平三坊（へいさんぼう）
• Heisanbō (Kasumigaura), rice planting rite and fertility prayer (o-taue matsuri)

History

Heisanbō（平三坊, Heisanbō）is an agricultural rite passed down in the Ushiwata（牛渡, Ushiwata）district of Kasumigaura（かすみがうら市, Kasumigaura-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture）and celebrated as an o-taue matsuri（お田植祭り, otaue matsuri, "rice planting festival/rite"）at the Kashima Shrine（鹿島神社, Kashima Jinja）on May 5th. It fits within the logic of rites marking the start of the rice-growing season, where human fertility and the fertility of the rice fields are "staged" to invoke prosperity and a good harvest（五穀豊穣, gokoku hōjō）.

The central figure is Heisanbō, a ritual "old man"（老爺, rōya）with a soot-blackened face, carrying a hoe（鍬, kuwa）. Around him appear masked characters, notably Okame（おかめ, Okame）, and saotome（早乙女, saotome, "young rice planters"）who conclude the sequence with a symbolic rice planting gesture. Local sources recall that in the past the "Heisanbō" part could be performed more independently and more "unrestrained" (in the sense of popular fertility theater), before merging into a more condensed sequence within the shrine rite.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: Kashima Shrine（鹿島神社, Kashima Jinja）, Ushiwata district（牛渡, Ushiwata）, Kasumigaura (Ibaraki).
• Address: 茨城県かすみがうら市牛渡4190（Ibaraki-ken, Kasumigaura-shi, Ushiwata 4190）.
• Access: from Ishioka（石岡駅, Ishioka-eki / JR Jōban Line）, head towards the Ushiwata area. Useful landmark: bus stop Ōwada Sakashita（大和田坂下, Ōwada Sakashita）, then about a 40 min walk depending on the route. Plan to arrive early as local transport options are limited.
• Date: May 5th (every year).
  

Schedule

Heisanbō（平三坊, Heisanbō）is presented as a multi-scene rite at the shrine: it combines a solemn dimension (prayer, presence of the officiant) and a deliberately expressive ritual theater intended to "bring forth" fertility and the healthy growth of rice.

The often described sequence begins with a spectacular scene involving a horse (神馬, shinme, "sacred horse") running around the shrine building. Then comes the entrance of Heisanbō (blackened face, hoe in hand) accompanied by masked characters: a fertility gesture (symbolic and ritualized) linking the birth of children and the "seeding" of the rice ears. Finally, the rite closes with the intervention of saotome（早乙女, saotome）who perform a symbolic rice planting (田植え, taue), followed by prayers for the harvest and health.

What makes this matsuri particularly striking is the contrast between the agricultural rite (o-taue, otaue) and the more "comic" part (in the sense of ritual theater), embraced as a direct way to express vital energy: visitors come seeking both a strong cultural experience and a prayer for prosperity (五穀豊穣, gokoku hōjō).

Practical Tips

Photos

To capture the atmosphere, favor a "reportage" setting: a short to medium zoom (to follow movements), and a second camera/lens with a wider angle if you want to include the shrine and the crowd. If the horse scene is present, position yourself upstream at a point where the trajectory is clear, and keep a safety margin: do not encroach on the ritual space. The best light is often in the mid-afternoon (if the rite takes place at these times).

Weather

Early May in Ibaraki can be mild but changeable: bring a light layer + a windbreaker (the Kasumigaura area can be windy). Comfortable shoes are recommended: you will be standing, and the ground around the shrine can be uneven.

Transport

The easiest is to aim for Ishioka（石岡駅, Ishioka-eki）then continue by car/taxi or by bus + walk depending on the day's schedule. Plan your return: options late in the day may be limited. If you come by car, arrive early to avoid parking far away.

Visitor Tips

Useful tip: since the date is fixed (May 5th), crowds can be heavier during Golden Week. Arriving 30–60 min before the start gives you better spots and limits movement during the rite. A handy phrase: 「すみません、ここで見てもいいですか」（sumimasen, koko de mite mo ii desu ka, "excuse me, may I watch from here?").

What to Bring

Cash (if local stalls), power bank, water, hat, and compact rain protection. If filming, consider a strap or a lightweight stabilizer for moving scenes.

Sources & References

• かすみがうら市観光協会 :「へいさんぼう」

  Local reference page: description of the rite (o-taue matsuri), characters (Heisanbō, saotome), symbolic meaning (fertility and harvest).

• 日本一の湖のほとりにある街の話 :「豊穣と繁栄を祈って。かすみがうら市・平三坊」

  Article illustrating the sequence (horse, appearance of characters, rice planting) and the meaning "prayer for fertility/abundance".

• Yahoo!マップ : 鹿嶋神社（かすみがうら市牛渡）

  Practical landmark: address, access information (bus + walk), and route consultation.

• 地図マピオン : 鹿島神社（かすみがうら市牛渡）周辺地図

  Useful map to precisely locate the shrine (coordinates and sector reading).