Home of the Takomai-shiki ritual, said to be one of Japan's three great eccentric festivals, and designated as a Tottori Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
A shrine located in Fukuoka, Hōki-chō, known for the Takomai-shiki (octopus-dance ritual) held each October, which is said to be one of Japan's three great eccentric festivals. It was designated as a Tottori Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1986.
The origin of the ritual is said to reach back to the sea. According to legend, when the enshrined deity Hayatama-o-no-Mikoto's vessel was nearly shipwrecked off the coast of Kumano, a multitude of octopuses appeared and lifted the boat to safety — and so, even in this inland mountain village far from the sea, a ritual of gratitude to the octopus has been carried on ever since. In the ceremony, parishioners in loincloths hoist a man holding a large straw octopus, spinning him round as he clings to the beams of the main hall in a physically demanding and spirited rite.
The event is held roughly in October (exact dates vary by year). If you plan to attend, be sure to check the latest event information in advance. For more detail, see the Takomai-shiki article in 'Stories from History.'