Nakano Shrine

Nakano Shrine in Higashiomi has been the spiritual center of a distinctive local tradition since the early 18th century, when residents began gathering on its grounds to collaboratively build the Higashiomi oodako, giant kites measuring roughly 100 tatami mats in area. The kites were constructed here, then transported to an open field called Okinogahara for flying. The craft became so refined that Nakano came to be known for producing the area's best kite makers. In 1991, a dedicated Higashiomi Oodako Hall was built to take over the construction work. Kite making on the shrine grounds has since ceased, but people still visit to pray for their kites' success, keeping the connection between the shrine and this unusual craft alive.