Published October 20, 2026 at 7:50 PM JST

In February the temple town of Saidaiji in Okayama hosts a centuries-old night festival, where thousands of men in loincloths reach for two sacred wooden sticks said to bring a year of good fortune.

Quick answer: Saidaiji Eyo, often called the Okayama Naked Festival, is a winter ritual held at Saidaiji Kannon-in temple in Okayama City. It is typically held on the third Saturday of February, with organizers setting the exact day each year. Participants wearing only traditional loincloths compete to catch two sacred sticks called shingi, and the festival is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

A temple festival that welcomes the spring

Saidaiji Eyo, written 西大寺会陽 in Japanese, takes place in the Saidaiji district of Okayama City in the Higashi ward. The setting is Saidaiji Kannon-in, a Buddhist temple at the heart of an old temple town. Okayama City describes the festival as a tradition that heralds the coming of spring to the Bizen plain, and the date in late winter fits that image well, since the events come at the very end of the coldest season.

The word eyo refers to a New Year Buddhist ritual in which prayers are offered for the peace and prosperity of the coming year. At Saidaiji, those prayers end each year with a dramatic night event that has become famous throughout Japan. The festival is widely called a hadaka matsuri, or naked festival, because the participants wear only a traditional loincloth called a fundoshi. That description sounds startling to many first-time readers, but the atmosphere is one of devotion and communal energy rather than spectacle for its own sake.

The festival is often listed among the best-known naked festivals in Japan, and it draws spectators from across the country and abroad. The main event happens late at night, but the whole day is filled with performances, music and community events, so there is plenty for families and curious visitors to enjoy even before the climax.

Roots in the Muromachi period and the move to wooden sticks

According to the city and to the Okayama tourism association, the festival dates back to the Muromachi period and has continued for more than five hundred years. A regional guide notes that the festival reached its 500th anniversary in 2010, which helps explain why local people speak of it with such pride.

The same guide traces the temple itself to the year 777, when it was reportedly founded by a monk named Anryu. It also describes how the festival grew out of a New Year prayer ritual brought from the great temple of Todai-ji in Nara. In the early custom, a paper talisman was placed on an altar for a period of prayer and then handed to senior parishioners, who passed on the blessings of the year. Over time, as more and more people hoped to receive a share of the blessing, the talismans were torn in the rush. The guide says that in 1510 the head priest replaced the paper with wooden sticks, which came to be called shingi, so the sacred object could be handled more safely.

That origin story is a good reminder that the festival began as a heartfelt prayer for the well-being of the community. The scramble for the sticks is not a contest of strength for its own sake; it is a way of sharing the blessings of the new year with as many people as possible.

Because the details of such a long history come mostly from local tradition, readers who want to dig deeper can consult the temple and the festival association, which preserve the records and stories.

The two sacred sticks and the lucky man

At the heart of the festival are two sacred sticks, the shingi. According to the Okayama tourism association, they are thrown from a special window of the main hall called the Gofuku window. Roughly ten thousand men wearing loincloths gather in the temple grounds to try to catch them, according to the city. The man who obtains a shingi is called the fukuotoko, which means lucky man, and the stick is said to bring him good fortune for the year.

The shingi are treated as sacred objects, and the title of fukuotoko is regarded as a great honor. The idea behind it is that good fortune is something to be shared, which fits the festival's long history as a prayer for the whole community.

The throwing of the shingi is timed for 10:00 in the evening, according to the city's schedule for 2026. As the moment approaches, the temple grounds fill with the sound of chanting and the sight of a huge mass of people moving as one. When the sticks are thrown, a great wave of movement sweeps through the crowd.

What happens during the festival day

The festival day is packed with events, and the evening builds toward the climax. Using the city's 2026 schedule as an example, the day began in the afternoon with a boys' hadaka matsuri, which sets off from the public hall and gives younger participants a gentler version of the tradition. Later came a dance performance called Eyo jinku, followed by two sessions of taiko drumming in the early evening. A winter fireworks display was also scheduled from the early evening hours.

The day also includes other programs, such as rice cake throwing and community events reported by regional guides. These can vary from year to year, so it is best to check the festival association for the current timetable. There is also an after-festival called Eyo Ato Matsuri, mentioned by a regional guide, which offers a more relaxed celebration once the main ritual is done.

The sequence is designed to bring the town together. By the time the main event begins, there is a festive atmosphere on the streets around the temple, with food and warm drinks on offer to ward off the cold. People of all ages gather to watch, and many families make the trip an annual tradition.

Music, purification and ritual

Music is an important part of the evening. The taiko drumming performances, known as Eyo daiko, provide a driving rhythm that builds anticipation, and the dance performances offer a graceful contrast to the energy of the crowd. Together they fill the cold night air with sound while the participants prepare.

Before the sticks are thrown, participants take part in rituals meant to purify the body and spirit. Photos published by the city show participants taking a cleansing water bath in the cold, an image that has become closely associated with the festival. Throughout the evening, the chanting of the crowd, the clapping, and the call-and-response shouts create a distinctive sound.

The costume is simple: participants wear a traditional loincloth. A regional guide notes that visitors can join as participants by following the rules and registering through the organizers, and a travel site mentions a festival kit that includes the loincloth and other items, though conditions change from year to year. Anyone interested should ask the festival association directly, since participation involves cold temperatures and a dense crowd, and official guidance should always be followed.

Visiting Saidaiji: access, tickets and etiquette

Saidaiji Kannon-in is about a ten-minute walk from JR Saidaiji Station, according to a regional guide. Travelers from Okayama Station can reach Saidaiji Station by train. The temple is also about 30 minutes by car from the Sanyo Interchange of the Sanyo Expressway, but the roads and temporary parking lots around the temple become busy, so public transport is the more comfortable choice on festival day.

Okayama City lists several types of viewing tickets for the 2026 festival, including reserved seats, standing areas and main hall viewing, and a regional guide says standing-room seats are sold only on the day. Because ticket rules and prices change, check the festival association's information before you plan. The shingi throwing is also livestreamed on the official YouTube channel, according to the Okayama tourism association, which is a handy option if you cannot attend in person.

February nights in Okayama can be very cold, so dress warmly in layers, and bring gloves and a hat. Plan to arrive early, since the best viewing positions fill up. Follow the directions of staff and volunteers, stay inside the designated viewing areas, and take extra care with children in the crowd. If you are curious about participating, ask the organizers about requirements well ahead of time, and treat the ritual with the respect it deserves.

The area around the temple includes a retro shopping street, known as Gofuku-dori, where visitors can find food, warm drinks and shelter from the cold, according to a travel site. It is a pleasant place to spend the afternoon before the evening events.

Local flavor and official recognition

Visitors who combine their festival trip with time in Okayama City can explore the wider area and its local specialties, which makes a good way to turn a single festival evening into a longer trip. The retro shopping street near the temple is a good place to start.

In terms of official recognition, Okayama City states that Saidaiji Eyo was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan on March 2, 2016, in recognition of how well its customs have been preserved. A regional guide also lists it as one of several well-known unusual festivals of Japan, along with festivals in Iwate and Osaka. That recognition is a source of pride in Saidaiji, and it helps the community continue to care for the tradition.

Dates and programs change each year, and organizers set the details. Before you go, confirm the schedule with Okayama City, the Okayama tourism association or the festival association.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Saidaiji Eyo held?

It is typically held on the third Saturday of February, and the main event of throwing the sacred sticks is scheduled for around 10:00 in the evening. Because organizers set the exact date and program each year, check the Okayama tourism association or the city before you travel.

What are the shingi?

The shingi are two sacred wooden sticks thrown from a window of the main hall at Saidaiji Kannon-in. The man who obtains one is called the fukuotoko, or lucky man, and is said to receive good fortune for the year. According to a regional guide, wooden sticks replaced paper talismans in 1510.

Can visitors watch without taking part?

Yes. Many people come only to watch, and the city lists several types of viewing, including seating and standing areas, with the climax also available through a livestream. Dress warmly, arrive early, and follow staff directions, since the crowds are large and the night is cold.

Further reading: the Okayama tourism page on Saidaiji Eyo, the Okayama City page on Saidaiji Eyo and the regional guide to Saidaiji Eyo.

Keep exploring: Nada no Kenka Matsuri: Himeji's Festival of Clashing Mikoshi; Omizutori at Todai-ji: Nara's Fire and Water Welcome to Spring; Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri: A Winter Purification Rite in Inazawa; Toka Ebisu at Imamiya: Osaka's Lucky Bamboo Branches and New Year Fortune.