Venting your frustrations never felt so refreshing. Join the Bad-Mouthing Festival, also known as the Akutai Matsuri, and shout/insult your way to a better year!
What happens?
The Akutai Matsuri offers participants a chance to release their pent-up feelings by shouting insults as they ascend Mt. Ōiwa. The unique tradition, free for anyone to join, has roots in the Edo period and helps rid participants of the past year’s misfortunes.
Once at the summit, participants are greeted with amazake, a sweet, non-alcoholic traditional drink, and the warm glow of lanterns before concluding with a purification ceremony under a waterfall. It’s a one-of-a-kind way to start the new year with a clean slate.
Schedule 2024
December 31
- 22:00: Registration begins/loud voice compeition
- 22:30: Hiking begins from the Otokozakaguchi Parking Lot
- 23:00: Lantern procession departs parking lot and heads towards Ōiwasan Bishamonten Temple
January 1
- 00:00–03:00: Arrival at Ōiwasan Bishamonten and offerings of amazake to participants
- 03:00: Takinagashi (Waterfall Purification Ceremony) at Ōiwayama Bishamonten
How to get there
From JR Ryōmō Line Ashikaga Station or Tobu Isesaki Line Ashikaga Station, it’s a 20-minute drive. If you’re coming by car, it’s a 50-minute drive from the Tōhoku Expressway Sano-Fujioka IC or 20 minutes from the Kita-Kantō Expressway Ōta-Kiryū IC.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
