The mikoshi (portable shrine) is a sacred object. To ensure its proper handling and maintain the solemnity of the festival, there are several rules that must be strictly observed when carrying it. Please read the following instructions carefully and adhere to them.
Failure to follow these rules may result in your participation being terminated at the discretion of the mikoshi supervisor or officers of the Omachi Yakumo Mikoshi-kai. Please make sure you are fully aware of these rules in advance.

2025 Omachi Festival - Carrying the Portable Shrine

Important Suggestions

Tips for Choosing Your Attire
How to Choose Half-Handako Pants
To choose the right size, match the measurement of the thickest part of your thigh to the hem opening of the half-Handako pants. A snug fit is considered the most stylish way to wear them. Immediately after purchase, it's recommended to soak them in warm water to remove any starch before wearing them for the first time.

How to Choose Tabi Shoes
Tabi socks are designated as white with rubber soles (jikatabi). The size should fit your foot exactly – neither too big nor too small. As a rule of thumb, choose a size that is about 5 mm smaller than your usual shoe size. While it's common to wear them on bare feet, you can prevent slippage by choosing the perfect size and using commercially available inner socks, such as five-toe socks or tabi socks liners.
The metal fasteners on Tabi Shoes are called kohaze (small hooks). Typically, there are four kohaze, but some have five, seven, or even more. Historically, four hooks were common in the Kanto region, and five in Kansai. When choosing Tabi Shoes, the number of kohaze is important. Fewer hooks mean a shorter instep (the part from the heel to the ankle), while more hooks mean a longer instep. A longer instep offers better ankle protection, which is highly recommended for the fast-paced mikoshi carrying style of the Omachi Festival. We suggest at least five hooks to protect your ankles.

Sarashi (Bleached Cotton Abdominal Wrap)
The sarashi is essential for protecting your waist. Please choose a material made of 100% cotton; half a sheet is usually sufficient, as a full sheet can be too long. Immediately after purchase, soak the cloth in warm water to remove any sizing or starch before use.
After soaking, lightly dehydrate the fabric and fold it in half before it dries completely. While folding, wrap it around a stick-shaped object (a Saran wrap core works well).
When actually wrapping it around your body, slightly moisten it. For men, wrap it tightly from below the navel up to the bottom of the chest. For women, wrap it up to the top of the chest. To achieve a tighter wrap, slightly twist the sarashi as you go to create some elasticity. Once wrapped, secure it in place by pinching it over the wrapped sarashi, ensuring there are no loose ends.

Wearing a Shirt Under Your Hakuchou or Hanten
If you wish to wear a shirt under your Hakuchou or Hanten, please choose a white dabo shirt or koiguchi shirt. From our experience, we recommend 100% cotton for both types of shirts.
A dabo shirt is, as the name suggests, a short, loose-fitting shirt. It's worn loosely with the hem outside of your half-Handako pants.
A koiguchi shirt has narrowed sides and seven-minute (3/4 length) sleeves that resemble the mouth of a carp. This shirt was traditionally designed for mikoshi carriers. Its hem is worn tucked inside your half-Handako pants.

These types of traditional costumes are now readily available at online stores, so you can search for them there.