Komaneko Festival

Overview

Komaneko Festival (Komaneko Matsuri) is an annual event held in Mineyama Town, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, with cats as its central theme. The festival takes place around Kotohira Shrine, Mineyama Station, and the surrounding shopping district, typically in September. It is organized by the Komaneko Festival Executive Committee, which includes the Neko Project, the Konpira Handicraft Market, and Neko Kaigi, a network of cat lovers in the Tango region.

The festival's slogan, "a festival that cherishes the connection between people and cats in Tango," reflects its multifaceted approach. The event features art exhibitions, craft markets, awareness programs for cat protection, and collaborations with local restaurants. Mineyama Town has long been home to a culture centered on the "komaineko," or lion-dog-like cat statues, and the festival plays a role in preserving this heritage while fostering a cat-friendly atmosphere throughout the community. The festival attracts visitors not only from the local area but also from other prefectures, becoming an annual autumn tradition.

History and Origins

The roots of the Komaneko Festival trace back to the "komaineko" statues enshrined at Kotohira Shrine. These stone cat figures, believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune, have been cherished by local residents for generations. The komaineko are a pair of stone cats enshrined at Kojima Shrine and Sarutahiko Shrine, auxiliary shrines within the precincts of Kotohira Shrine. Mineyama Town flourished as a major producer of Tango chirimen silk crepe, first woven here by Kinuya Saheiji in 1720, and cats were indispensable to sericulture households because they hunted the mice that devoured silkworms and cocoons. For this reason cats, rather than the usual guardian dogs, were dedicated as divine messengers at Kojima Shrine, which enshrines the guardian deity of sericulture. Kojima Shrine was transferred here in 1830 by chirimen merchants of the Mineyama domain from the Kaiko-no-Yashiro shrine in Uzumasa, Kyoto, and two years later, in 1832, the stone komaineko are said to have been carved and dedicated by Matsusuke, a stonemason of Masudome. In September 2020 they were designated a cultural property of Kyotango City under the name Kotohira Shrine Stone Komaineko.

Around 2011, a volunteer group called the Neko Project began organizing workshops for painting unglazed ceramic komaineko figures at Kotohira Shrine and during the Konpira Handicraft Market. Participants could color their own komaineko and then dedicate them at the shrine. This activity gradually gained popularity. The Neko Project members expressed a vision of "eventually making the town a place where cats can be seen everywhere," and they worked to revitalize the local cat culture.

These activities culminated in the first Komaneko Festival in 2016. Led by founder Tomoko Tanaka and a core team of about 30 staff members, mostly women, the festival was realized in just three months from its conception. The first edition was timed to coincide with the 70th edition of the Konpira Handicraft Market. The day began with a prayer ceremony at Kishima Shrine, where komaineko are also located, followed by simultaneous events across the town starting at 11 a.m..

Since then, the festival has been held annually, expanding its program to include art displays in vacant storefronts and special cat-themed menus offered by local eateries. By 2019, the fourth edition featured talk sessions on pet disaster preparedness hosted by cat protection organizations, strengthening the festival's role as a platform for raising awareness about cat welfare. As the festival grew, Mineyama Town became widely recognized as the "Town of Komaineko," contributing to the tourism promotion of Kyotango City.

Highlights

Ceramic Komaineko Painting Workshop The most distinctive hands-on program of the festival is the workshop for painting unglazed ceramic komaineko figures. Organized by the Neko Project and ongoing since 2011, this workshop allows participants to freely color a prepared ceramic komaineko. The finished pieces can be either dedicated at Kotohira Shrine or taken home, resulting in colorful komaineko displayed throughout the shrine grounds and the town. This activity provides participants with the joy of creating their own auspicious item and transforms the entire town into an art gallery.

Konpira Handicraft Market The handicraft market held within the grounds of Kotohira Shrine is a key component of the Komaneko Festival. Established in 2009 and held monthly on the third Sunday, the market typically features 15 to 20 stalls. During the festival, the scale expands significantly. For the first festival, approximately 70 stalls were set up, and subsequent festivals have continued this tradition. The market serves as a meeting point for local artisans and visitors, with many stalls offering cat-themed crafts, accessories, and miscellaneous goods.

Town Art Project Vacant shops, galleries, and storefront walls throughout the town are used to display cat-themed artworks. A notable exhibition is the "Great Tango Neko-ha Ten," held at the former Tanaka Furniture Gallery, where professional artists and local high school students present paintings and three-dimensional works expressing their affection for cats. Additionally, "ishi-neko" stone cats painted on natural rocks have been permanently installed along the stone steps of Kotohira Shrine since 2015. These exhibits turn the entire town into a museum, allowing visitors to encounter new cats as they walk around.

Limited-Edition Cat-Themed Food During the festival period, restaurants and confectionery shops in Mineyama Town offer special menus and products inspired by komaineko and cats. Examples include "Komaineko Barazushi" at Plaza Hotel Kichien, "NEKO-NO-EN (Cat's Garden)" at Toda Fugetsudo, and "Komaineko Monaka" at Omochagashi Daido. These items have become established signature products for the respective shops and are now considered new local specialties of Mineyama Town. These culinary offerings enhance the strolling experience for visitors and contribute to the local economy.

Komaneko Festival Fun Fair Inside the building of Kotohira Shrine, a fun fair is set up, featuring activities for both children and adults. Visitors can enjoy N-gauge model train operation experiences, shooting games, and ring toss. The "Komaneko Train," a specially decorated model train designed with cat motifs, runs on a diorama and is popular among railway enthusiasts. This fair adds an element of entertainment to the festival and serves as a means to pass on the enjoyment of the festival to the next generation.

Cat Rescue Seminar and Adoption Event The Tango Cat Lovers Network "Neko Kaigi" organizes exhibits and seminars related to cat rescue activities. Cat adoption events, consultations on proper cat care, and talk sessions on pet disaster preparedness are held, providing a serious and informative space within the festive atmosphere. This initiative incorporates a social message into the festival's liveliness, encouraging participants to reflect on coexistence with cats.

Event Information and Access

• Timing: The festival is typically held around the third Sunday of September. Related events may also take place the day before or during October.
• Location: Kotohira Shrine, Mineyama Station area, and the shopping district in Mineyama Town, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture.
• Nearest Station: Mineyama Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway.
• Access: From Mineyama Station, all venues are within walking distance. Kotohira Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from the station. For those arriving by car, paid parking lots are available in the vicinity.
• Organizers: Komaneko Festival Executive Committee, Neko Project, Konpira Handicraft Market, Tango Cat Lovers Network "Neko Kaigi".
• Latest Schedule and Cancellation: Check the official website for the most current information.
• Admission: The main festival is free to enter. Some experiential programs (such as the painting workshop) may require a fee.
• Contact: Use the inquiry form on the official website.

Nearby Information

Mineyama Town is located in Kyotango City in northern Kyoto Prefecture, at the heart of the Tango Peninsula facing the Sea of Japan. This region is part of the Japan Heritage site "Tango Chirimen Corridor: Silk Woven for 300 Years," and the komaineko are included as components of this heritage. Around Mineyama Station, old townscapes from the Meiji to Showa periods remain, with warehouses and merchant houses that recall the area's prosperity from the chirimen silk industry. During the festival, visitors can stroll through these streets and enjoy local crafts and specialty products.

Mineyama Station, the gateway to the town, is a stop on the Kyoto Tango Railway, providing convenient access from Kyoto and Amanohashidate. During the festival period, events such as "Rakuza" are sometimes held in the station concourse, featuring performances and displays by local artists. On the way from the station to Kotohira Shrine, cat-themed decorations can be seen everywhere, including cat art painted on shutter doors of shops and streetlights designed with komaineko motifs, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Behind Kotohira Shrine lies a quiet residential area of the old town. Climbing the stone steps of the shrine, visitors are greeted by the komaineko enshrined at Kojima Shrine within the precincts, and from the shrine grounds a view of Mineyama town unfolds. The surrounding area is dotted with restaurants using local ingredients and small shops selling handmade goods, offering a relaxed experience even on days other than the festival. The Kyotango City Tourism Bureau offers a year-round experiential program for painting ceramic komaineko, providing opportunities for tourists interested in the festival to visit throughout the year.

Related Information

• Komaineko of Kotohira Shrine: The stone cat statues that are the symbols of the festival. They were designated as tangible cultural properties of Kyotango City in 2020.
• Neko Project: A volunteer group active since 2011 that organizes the ceramic komaineko painting workshop and is deeply involved in the festival's operations.
• Konpira Handicraft Market: A monthly handicraft market held on the third Sunday at Kotohira Shrine since 2009. It is one of the main stages for the Komaneko Festival.
• Tango Cat Lovers Network "Neko Kaigi": A group engaged in cat rescue activities in the Tango region. It organizes cat rescue seminars and adoption events during the festival.
• Japan Heritage "Tango Chirimen Corridor": The komaineko and other cultural properties of the region are part of this Japan Heritage designation, positioning the festival as part of the cultural inheritance.
• Komaneko Walk: In past festivals, walking events exploring local history were held, sometimes guided by students from Fukuchiyama Public University.
• Related Experience: The Kyotango City Tourism Bureau offers a year-round ceramic komaineko painting experience program.
• Official Website: https://komanekofes.com provides the latest information.

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