Mibu-no-Hanadaue Traditional Rice Planting Ritual

Mibu-no-hanadaue is a revived rice planting ritual said to have roots in the middle ages that is reenacted on the first Sunday of June every year. The event was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage in 2003 and many people now make the trip to Chiyoda in Kita-hiroshima to view it.

Bulls are led through the streets to Mibu Hachiman Shrine where they are dressed with elaborately decorated saddles and colorful necklaces. They are then led to a field, and after they have ploughed it saotome (rice planting maidens) in kimono and wide-brimmed sugegasa hats plant rice seedlings in time with the music performed by drummers and flautists as they sing.

Parking available at the Chiyoda Michi-no-eki and Town Hall from where shuttle buses run to the rice field.

Parade from Mibu Shotengai Shopping Area to the Planting field

• 10:50 Kids parade (from Mibu elementary school)
• 12:00 Folk dance (from Mibu elementary school)
• 12:30 Decorated cattle parade (from Mibu Shrine)
• 13:00 Traditional music

Rice field ploughing and rice planting starts at about 14:00

Access:

Car
Exit the Chugoku Expressway at Chiyoda IC. Free shuttle buses run from Parking #1, #3 and #4 (see map above).

Shuttle bus:　09:00-16:00
Kitahiroshima Town Hall → Michi no Eki Mairoad → Rice planting area

Bus
Take the Miyoshi-Shobara-Matsue bound bus from Hiroshima Bus Center platform #9 and get off at Chiyoda IC (¥1310 one way adult fare).
Take the Hamada bound bus from Hiroshima Shinkansen Station or Hiroshima Bus Center and get off at Chiyoda IC.
Take the Miyoshi-Shobara-Tojo bound bus from Hiroshima Bus Center and get off at Chiyoda IC.