Naha Great Tug-of-War: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Naha)

A Rope as Thick as a Car

On this day the rope is the whole street. Route 58 is Naha’s main artery, and for the Great Tug-of-War it closes to traffic. Down the middle lies a rope of woven rice straw roughly 200 metres long, its main body taller than many of the people standing next to it. In 1995 Guinness recognised it as the world’s largest rope made of straw.

Hundreds of thinner side ropes branch off the main rope like ribs. Those are what you actually hold. The two halves face each other across the Kumoji intersection, one team for the East and one for the West, and tens of thousands of people pack in on both sides.

Date, Tickets and the Kumoji Intersection

The 2026 pull is on October 11, 2026, a Sunday. It usually falls on the long weekend around Japan’s Sports Day holiday, as part of the wider Naha Festival.

• Tickets: none. Entry is free, and spectators can watch from the street and join the pull.
• Venue: Route 58 at the Kumoji intersection (久茂地交差点) in central Naha, a short walk from the western end of Kokusai-dori.
• Timing: confirm start times, road closures and any typhoon postponement on the official Naha Festival site.

October can still bring typhoons to Okinawa, and organisers have moved the pull before because of weather. Check the official source on the morning itself as well as when you plan the trip.

The Kanuchi Pin and the Ceremony Before the Pull

The pulling is the last thing to happen. First the two halves have to be joined. Each half ends in a big loop, and the loops are brought together and locked with a heavy wooden bar called the kanuchi-bō (カヌチ棒). Getting that bar through both loops takes a crowd of men lifting and shoving. It is a show in itself and a good reason to arrive early.

Before that, the shitaku step up onto the rope. These are performers in costume who play heroes from Ryukyu history and legend. Banners called hata-gashira go up on tall poles, carried by men who balance them against the wind. Gongs and drums keep a beat throughout. The tradition dates back to the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and the modern street version was revived in 1971.

Getting a Grip: Joining the Pull

Anyone can pull, and almost everyone does. Here is how it works on the ground:

• Stand by a side rope. Push forward towards one of the thin branch ropes along the main body. Whichever side of the intersection you’re on decides your team.
• Wait for the signal. Nobody pulls until the official start. When the gongs and the crowd’s shout begin, lean back and dig in.
• Learn the call. The chant is “Haiya! Haiya!”, shouted in rhythm with each heave. Join in.
• Mind the crowd. It is tightly packed and hot. If you have children with you or don’t like crushes, watch from the edges rather than the centre of the intersection.

The contest has a time limit, so it doesn’t drag on until one side drops. If neither team moves the rope far enough, it can end in a draw. Wear closed shoes, since the street is crowded and feet get trodden on. Gloves help with the straw, which is rough on bare hands.

Riding the Yui Rail to Kumoji

The Yui Rail monorail is the easiest way in, because Route 58 is closed to cars for the event. Two stations put you within walking distance:

• Kencho-mae Station (県庁前): closest to the western end of Kokusai-dori and Kumoji. Walk towards Route 58 and follow the crowd.
• Asahibashi Station (旭橋): right by the Naha Bus Terminal, a short walk north up Route 58 to the intersection.

Trains get very full on the day. Plan on queues at the ticket machines too. An IC card such as OKICA or Suica saves you from them, since the Yui Rail accepts the major nationwide IC cards. Driving isn’t worth it: roads around the venue close and parking in central Naha fills up.

If you are staying near Kokusai-dori, just walk. The intersection is at the western end of the street, and the walk from most hotels on the strip is quicker than the train.

A Piece of Rope to Take Home

The rope doesn’t stay in one piece once the pull is over. People cut off lengths of straw to take home, because a piece of the Great Tug-of-War rope is believed to bring good luck and good health for the year. Plenty of locals keep a strand somewhere in the house.

If you want some, bring a small pair of scissors or a folding knife and stay near the rope after the finish. Be quick, because the main rope gets cut apart in a hurry. Avoid taking blades through airport security if you’re flying out the same day. Pack them in checked luggage instead.

Around the Pull: Kokusai-dori and the Naha Festival

The tug-of-war is the main event of the Naha Festival, which runs over the same weekend. During the festival, Kokusai-dori often hosts parades and Eisa drum dancing. Check the official festival programme for what’s on and where.

Once the crowds start to thin, walk east along Kokusai-dori. Turn off into the covered arcades of Heiwa-dori and Ichiba-hondori. They lead to the Makishi Public Market, where the ground floor sells fish and pork and restaurants upstairs will cook what you buy.

For somewhere quieter afterwards, the stone-paved Tsuboya pottery street is a short walk further on. Shuri Castle is a few stops up the Yui Rail at Shuri Station, which makes a good morning trip before an afternoon at the rope.