The Hattori Foot Festival takes place in late September, bringing together traditional rituals, foot-health experiences, fortune telling, and plenty of opportunities to learn more about the feet that carry us through everyday life.
Hattori Tenjingu Shrine is dedicated to the "God of Feet" and has been associated with foot health for more than 1,000 years. According to tradition, renowned scholar and politician Sugawara no Michizane stopped at the shrine while travelling to Dazaifu and prayed for relief from a foot ailment. After recovering, he was able to continue his journey safely.
During the festival, visitors can take part in a purification ceremony using salt and sacred water, while a special Prayer for Healthy Legs is held at the shrine. Sportswear is welcome, making the experience particularly accessible to runners, athletes, and other active visitors.
There are also Healthy Legs Experience booths, where visitors can try single-toothed geta sandals, have their feet measured, and discover products designed to support better posture and alignment. A free foot-themed quiz rally offers prizes, while the "Path of the Foot God" involves crawling beneath oversized wooden geta as part of a purification experience.
One of the festival's most distinctive sights is the Geta Corridor, featuring around 340 wooden clogs, including a giant two-meter geta. Visitors can write wishes on strips of paper and hang them from the geta, sending their hopes to the God of Feet.
