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Name in Japanese and English

• 西大寺会陽（はだか祭り）（さいだいじ えよう）
• Saidaiji Eyo, the Hadaka Matsuri(“naked men” festival) of Saidaiji

History

Saidaiji Eyo（西大寺会陽, Saidaiji Eyo）is a spectacular winter rite held at Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple（西大寺観音院, Saidaiji Kannon-in）in Okayama. Known nationwide by the nickname “Hadaka Matsuri”（はだか祭り, Hadaka matsuri）, it is often cited among Japan’s “three great kisai”（三大奇祭, sandai kisai, “eccentric festivals”) and is one of the region’s major winter events.

Its origin is tied to the New Year Buddhist liturgy known as Shushō-e（修正会, Shushō-e）, traditionally performed over several days. According to temple tradition, in the early 16th century the distribution of talismans to worshippers created such a dense crowd that the objects were eventually thrown over people’s heads, giving rise to the idea of a chaotic “fight for good fortune”. Over time, the talisman evolved into the Shingi（宝木, shingi, “sacred wooden sticks”), and the belief that whoever secures one will receive fortune became firmly rooted in local culture.

The “naked” aspect has a practical reason: to survive the pressure of the crowd and keep moving, participants wear only a fundoshi（褌, fundoshi）and tabi socks（足袋, tabi）—a look that also symbolises purity and simplicity. The rite is framed by purification practices, including the famous Misogi（水垢離, mizugori, cold-water ablutions) held in the days leading up to the event.

Location and date of the event

• Location: Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple（西大寺観音院, Saidaiji Kannon-in）, Okayama City(Okayama Prefecture), Higashi-ku（東区, Higashi-ku）.
• Date: every year on the 3rd Saturday of February, in the evening. Peak moment: the Tōka（投下, “drop”) of the Shingi（宝木, shingi）at 22:00, thrown from the Gofukumado（御福窓, gofukumado, “Window of Fortune”) of the main hall.

Event schedule

Saidaiji Eyo feels like a long build-up of tension across the town. In advance, participants attend training sessions, safety briefings and, for some, purification through mizugori（水垢離, mizugori）. When night falls, thousands of men in fundoshi enter the temple grounds—packed tight, disciplined, and closely supervised by organisers.

Around 19:00, the atmosphere intensifies with taiko performances（太鼓, taiko）and, in some years, winter fireworks that signal the evening’s opening. The crowd then gathers toward the hondō（本堂, hondō, main hall). Participants concentrate under the Gofukumado as they wait for the decisive moment.

At 22:00, the temple drops two shingi（宝木, shingi）into the darkness. The struggle begins: a mass, intensely physical movement where the goal is to exit the hall holding a shingi and carry it to the designated area toward the Iwainushi（祝主, iwainushi, “fortune sponsors”). This grants the winner the title of Fuku-otoko（福男, fuku-otoko, “lucky man”).

Even for spectators, the experience is overwhelming: shouting, steam, collective breathing, harsh lighting, and a raw kind of fervour. Outside the temple, the area remains lively with yatai food stalls（屋台, yatai）and dense crowds well into the night.

Practical tips

Photos

For powerful images, focus on the processions and the build-up before 22:00: concentrated faces, rows of fundoshi, spotlights reflecting on bodies, and steam in the cold air. Avoid standing in compression zones; choose a side angle and use a 35–85mm range to isolate scenes without putting yourself at risk. Burst mode helps, but protect your gear from shocks.

Weather

In mid-February in Okayama, nights can be cold and especially damp. Dress in layers, bring gloves and a hat, and wear comfortable shoes. Because you’ll stand outside for a long time, kairo hand warmers（カイロ, kairo）make a real difference.

Transport

The simplest route is JR Saidaiji Station + walking. On the festival night, roads around the temple are very busy and may be restricted. For your return, check the last train in advance, or allow extra time if you plan to leave right after the peak moment.

Visitor tips

Arrive in late afternoon to scout the access routes and choose an observation spot. If you want to feel the atmosphere without being swallowed by the crowd, stay along the edges of the grounds and in slightly set-back areas. Useful phrases you may hear in announcements include 「危ないです」（Abunai desu, “It’s dangerous”) and 「押さないで」（Osanaide, “Don’t push”).

What to bring

Cash, a power bank, hand warmers（カイロ, kairo）, a windproof layer, and a small bag that closes securely. If you’re shooting photos, add a strong strap and avoid overly bulky lenses.

Sources & References

• Saidaiji(Kannon-in) Official: Eyo Hadaka Matsuri

  Official reference page: explanation of the rite, terminology, key elements(shingi, mizugori, taiko), and historical background.

• Saidaiji(Kannon-in) Official: Schedule & venue information

  Official schedule overview for the preparation period, and confirmation of the 3rd Saturday of February rule.

• Saidaiji(Kannon-in) Official: Origins of Eyo

  Detailed text on the origins(Shushō-e, talisman distribution) and the evolution into the shingi.

• Okayama Tourism Web: Saidaiji Eyo(Hadaka Matsuri)(2026)

  2026 event listing: date, times(including Shingi Tōka 22:00), address and access.

• Okayama Chamber of Commerce: Saidaiji Eyo(overview)

  Organiser information page with official date, venue and contact details(edition-specific information, including 2026).

• Okayama City Tourism: Saidaiji Eyo(Hadaka Matsuri)(2025)

  2025 listing with detailed times, access(JR Saidaiji Station, buses), and key visitor guidance.

• Okayama City Tourism: Saidaiji Eyo(Hadaka Matsuri)(2024)

  2024 listing mentioning the return of the struggle for the shingi and highlights(taiko, fireworks, yatai).

• Omatsuri Japan: report on COVID-era adaptations and ritual transmission

  Background article on how the festival adapted during the pandemic, and how the rites were maintained and passed on.