Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 香取神宮 御田植祭（かとりじんぐう おたうえさい）
• Rice Planting Festival (Otaue) of Katori-jingū Shrine

History

The Otaue-sai（御田植祭, otaue-sai）of Katori-jingū（香取神宮, Katori-jingū）is a major spring agricultural rite, organized to pray for prosperous harvests（五穀豊穣, gokoku hōjō）and to symbolically mark the start of the rice-growing season. The event is also locally known by the nickname “Katori-machi”（かとりまち, katori-machi）and is often cited among the “three great rice planting festivals of Japan”（日本三大御田植, Nihon sandai otaue）alongside other major shrines.

Its antiquity is well documented: sources mention its practice as early as the late 14th century, with references to the Meitoku era（明徳, Meitoku） and the year 1391. The fact that this rite has endured through the ages reinforces its status as a “classic” ceremony, where agricultural gestures from the Old Regime (ritual plowing, symbolic sowing, sung rice planting) are deliberately reenacted, not as a spectacle, but as an offering and prayer at the shrine.

The setting is significant: Katori-jingū is a top-ranking shrine dedicated to Futsunushi-Ōkami（経津主大神, Futsunushi-ōkami）, a deity associated with the protection of the country in the mythology of kuniyuzuri（国譲り, “transfer of the land”）and long venerated in eastern Japan. In this context, the Otaue-sai connects the shrine’s “protective” dimension to daily life: ensuring peace, but also food, thus the continuity of the territory.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: Katori-jingū Shrine（香取神宮, Katori-jingū）, city of Katori, Chiba Prefecture.
• Address: 〒287-0017 千葉県香取市香取1697-1（Chiba-ken, Katori-shi, Katori 1697-1）.
• Date: usually the first Saturday of April plus the following Sunday (two days).
• Date type: variable date (set according to the calendar: first weekend of April). Note: in certain special years (notably the Year of the Horse（午年, uma-doshi）), the event may be limited to Sunday.

Schedule

The Otaue-sai is experienced as a ritual “start” of the agricultural year: people come to seek blessings for the harvest, but also a form of collective protection (families, farmers, residents, visitors). The atmosphere alternates between solemnity (codified gestures, silence during prayers) and living tableau (costumes, processions, songs), often under the sakura（桜, cherry blossoms） which frequently reach their peak at this time.

Day 1: “Kōden-shiki”（耕田式, kōden-shiki）, starting at 1 p.m.. This first stage takes place mainly in the shrine’s ritual area, especially in front of the haiden（拝殿, prayer hall）: the ground is symbolically treated as a field. The plowing and preparation of the land are reenacted with traditional tools: kama（鎌, sickle）, kuwa（鍬, hoe）, suki（鋤, plow）and the presence of an ox that “pulls” the tool, as in traditional farming. The rite is punctuated by offerings and very defined roles (officiants, participants “in charge” of the gestures), and it may include highly anticipated moments such as the rice dance performed by children: ta-mai（田舞, ta-mai）.

Day 2: “Taue-shiki”（田植式, taue-shiki）, starting at 1 p.m.. The festival’s “photogenic” core often begins with a procession (priests, children, participants in costume) leaving the shrine and heading towards the sacred rice field: saiden（斎田, saiden）or goshinden（御神田, goshinden）depending on the name used. There, the young rice planters: saotome（早乙女, saotome）plant rice seedlings in rows, following a collective rhythm. They sing the rice planting song: taue-uta（田植歌, taue-uta）while planting the young shoots, giving the rite its most moving dimension: a blend of offering, work music, and precise gestures. When the “ritual” planting is completed, the procession reforms and the ceremony concludes, leaving a very concrete sense that “the year can begin.”

Practical Tips

Photos

For Day 1, aim for shots in front of the haiden（拝殿, haiden）: the tools, gestures, and alignments are very clear. For Day 2, the best shots are often at the sacred rice field（斎田, saiden）: bring a small telephoto lens to isolate the saotome（早乙女, saotome）and a wide-angle lens to include the sakura（桜, sakura）and the audience. Watch out for reflections on the water: a lens hood helps, and a microfiber cloth quickly becomes essential.

Weather

Early April in Chiba: often mild days but cool mornings/late afternoons. Plan for a “layering” approach (light jacket + thin warm layer), and shoes that can handle wet areas around the fields. In case of rain: poncho recommended (umbrella is inconvenient in crowds).

Transport

The easiest is JR Sawara（佐原駅, Sawara-eki）then taxi (~10 min) or bus depending on schedules. If you come by car, check parking areas in advance: parking is free, but access may be controlled on busy days. Arrive early if you want a close spot and a good viewpoint.

Visitor Tips

To avoid the biggest crowds, aim to arrive at least 45–60 minutes before 1 p.m. A useful phrase to know: 「どこで見られますか」（doko de miraremasu ka, “Where can I watch?”). Easily combine with a walk in the old town of Sawara（佐原, Sawara）if you stay for the day.

What to Bring

Cash, portable charger, poncho, microfiber cloth, small hand warmers（カイロ, kairo）if you get cold, and mud protection for shoes if you plan to stand near the water.

Sources & References

• 香取神宮｜4月5日・6日「御田植祭」斎行のご案内 (official announcement, 2025)

  2025 dates and times, concise description of the two days (耕田式, 田植式) and restriction information during the ceremony.

• 香取市公式｜香取神宮の御田植祭 (event sheet)

  Presentation, status (日本三大御田植), Day 1 / Day 2 schedule, date rule (first weekend of April) and note on the Year of the Horse (午年).

• 香取神宮｜令和4年 御田植祭について (official announcement, 2022)

  Example of a reduced format to 1 day (precise date and time), with schedule “in front of the haiden → saiden”.

• 香取神宮｜令和6年 桜開花状況 (mentions Otaue-sai on April 6–7)

  Seasonal communication mentioning 2024 dates (April 6–7) in the context of cherry blossom blooming.

• オマツリジャパン｜香取神宮御田植祭 (summary sheet, 2023)

  2023 dates and clear summary of the two rites (耕田式, 田植式) with times.

• 香取神宮｜アクセス (train, bus, car)

  Official access from JR佐原駅 (Sawara), option JR香取駅 (Katori) and driving directions.

• 香取神宮｜お車でお越しの方へ (parking)

  Official explanations on parking areas (第1駐車場, 第3駐車場) and points of attention.

• 香取神宮｜御由緒 (deity, mythological narrative)

  Religious context of the shrine and information on the venerated deity (経津主大神).

• 香取市公式｜香取神宮 (presentation + access)

  Presentation of the shrine, deity (経津主大神) and summary of access (train, car, bus).

• Visit Report｜香取神宮『御田植祭』 (2021)

  Report with field markers (route, photo spots, dated mention April 4, 2021).