Saidaiji Eyo, held in the area surrounding Saidaiji Temple in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a traditional religious rite and is widely known as one of Japan’s Three Great Eccentric Festivals.
On a bitterly cold winter night, nearly naked men clad only in loincloths compete fiercely to seize a pair of sacred wooden sticks called shingi.Those who successfully claim the shingi are honored as “Fuku-otoko,” or “lucky men,” and are believed to receive a year of good fortune.
The next Saidaiji Eyo will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
| Details | Starting Time | Place | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| ・Shounen Hadaka Matsuri （(Hadaka Matsuri for primary school boys) ・Mochi Nage (Rice-cake throwing competition for 1st–2nd graders) ・Gofukuzutsu Soudatsu (Treasure-cylinder contest for 3rd–4th graders) ・Houzutsu Soudatsu (Treasure-cylinder contest for 5th–6th graders) | at 2:40 pm | temple grounds |  |
| ・Eyo Jinku (Dance performances by university and local dance teams to energize the festival) | at 5:25 pm | temple grounds |  |
| ・Eyo Daiko (Drum performance by women to boost participants’ morale and pray for their safety) | at 6:15 pm at 7:10 pm （twice in a day) | main hall of the temple |  |
| ・Eyo Fuyu Hanabi (Winter fireworks display) | from 6:45pm to 7:15 pm | river bed of Yoshii-river (near the temple) |  |
| ・Shingi Touka (The highlight: the head priest throws the sacred shingi into the crowds of men in loincloths, triggering the intense struggle for possession) | at 10:00 pm | main hall of the temple |  |