Written by Greg Lane
The Paantu festival takes place on the Okinawa Prefecture island of Miyakojima in the far south of the archipelego.
What happens?
The villagers dress up as ‘Paantu’ — supernatural beings covered in mud and foliage. They also wear long masks. Their aim is to get mud on everything — kids, bystanders, cars, houses.
Don’t worry though, the mud is a form of exorcism intended to expel evil spirits and bring good fortune. But if you don’t want to get dirty, you really shouldn’t go.
In the past there have been incidents in which the Paantu have embraced tourists — covering their clothes in mud — and have been attacked in return. As a result, the locals keep the actual dates under their hats and the Paantu are now accompanied by attendants.
Schedule
The actual dates are announced just before the event.
The usual timing of the event is on two evenings in the first half of the 9th month of the Chinese calendar.
Past events
In 2025, the dates were projected to be sometime between October 21 and November 4. The event took place October 28 to 29.
The 2022 event happened on October 5 at around 5 p.m. In 2014, the event was on the October 3 and 4.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
