[Let’s go next year!] Giant bales rolling with a BOOM!?
How to enjoy Kumamoto/Tamana’s “Otawara Festival” and Autumn Camping [Zackysaurus Experience]
Yahoo! I’m Zackysaurus, the camping lover!
“I want to go camping, but I want to feel local history and excitement, not just have a bonfire!” Do you ever feel like that?
This time, I’ll introduce the autumn festival in Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, “Kumamoto Tamana Otawara Matsuri” (Big Rice Bale Festival), which I actually visited and was super moved by! If you’re planning to camp nearby, you definitely should stop by!
A giant bale weighing 1 ton rolls! It’s super powerful!
When you go to the venue, this scene jumps right into your eyes!
The one in the front is the “Small Bale,” and the one sitting in the back is the “Big Bale.” Surprised by the size difference!
When you hear “Bale (Tawara),” what weight do you imagine? A normal rice bale is about 60kg, right?
But Tamana’s Otawara Festival is on a different level!
🦕 Zacky’s Memo: Bale Spec Comparison
- Rice Bale: 60kg (This is heavy enough!)
- Small Bale (Ladies/Elementary Student Division): 200kg! (Diameter 1.6m, Width 2.6m)
- Big Bale (General Division): A whopping 1 ton! (Diameter approx. 2.5m)
This is a normal rice bale. Compared to this, you can see how extraordinary the festival bales are (lol).
When you see them up close, they look like this!
The Big Bale looks like this. Taller than a person!
The Small Bale looks like this. It’s amazing that this is still 200kg.
Why roll such huge bales? It seems it’s because Tamana (Takase) was a “rice accumulation center” for the Kikuchi River area in the Edo period.
The festival started based on the history of rolling rice bales to load onto ships. You can feel the history!
Powerful race scene! Everyone is working together to roll it!
The race competes for time on a 250-meter course. The winning team this year, “Bridgestone Go-Go-Maru,” finished in 2 minutes 53 seconds!
Rolling a 1-ton lump by humans in under 3 minutes, isn’t that amazing!?
In the elementary and women’s division, seeing them try so hard to pull the 200kg “Small Bale” made me want to cheer even louder!
Hot friendship with the neighboring “Kikuchi Hakuryu Festival”!
Actually, there’s a hotter episode to this festival.
The team from the “Kikuchi Hakuryu Festival” (White Dragon Festival) held in the neighboring Kikuchi City also participated in this race!
Conversely, the Tamana Otawara team participates in the White Dragon Festival, going back and forth to liven up each other’s festivals.
Interactions beyond regions… isn’t that like a youthful drama? It’s wonderful!
🐉 Neighboring Kikuchi City’s “Hakuryu Festival” is also super hot! Complete Highlights Guide
📸 Photo Spot Here!
Beside the stage, there was a “Sacred Bale” (instead of a sacred tree) sitting there, and I was surprised by its power!
Furthermore, the “Head of the White Dragon” from Kikuchi was also displayed next to it.
The sight of a “Giant Bale” and a “Dragon Head” lined up is a masterpiece! It’s a two-shot you can only get here, so definitely take a picture!
There were chairs placed like this, making it a photo spot. If you sit, maybe you’ll feel like Lord Kato Kiyomasa? (lol)
The other side is also super hot! Appetite-opening “Industrial Festival”
On the opposite side of the race venue, the “Industrial Festival” was held at the same time, and this was also super exciting!
High school students were holding craft events, and on stage, there were “Tomato Speed Eating Contests” and “Mandarin Orange Big Eating Championships” that made everyone laugh!
And above all, there were quite a few stalls and food trucks lined up… truly a food heaven…!
[Experience] If you underestimate it, it hurts… My failure and success
Failure: Cold and hungry…
I’ll be honest. I thought lightly, “I’ll just take a quick look at the festival and go back to the campsite immediately.”
So, I went with just one thin hoodie and without eating lunch… Big mistake!
The area around Tamana City Hall is quite cold when the wind blows! Plus, the race and festival were so interesting that I was standing for 2 hours before I knew it.
My body got completely cold and I was shivering, “Ugh, cold… hungry…”
Success: Tamana Ramen was the best!
What saved me from freezing was “Tamana Ramen” I ate near the Industrial Festival area!
Rich tonkotsu soup and fragrant burnt garlic chips. This soaks into a cold body…
The moment I slurped it, the umami and warmth spread in my mouth. “Ah~, I’m glad I’m alive~!” I seriously thought that (lol).
Finding local delicious food at kitchen cars and stalls is the real pleasure of this event!
Go there together! Recommended camping & sightseeing spots nearby
If you come to Tamana, it’s a waste to just see the festival!
There are many wonderful campsites and sightseeing spots nearby.
I’ll teach you recommended spots that my friends, the “Nobi-Nobi Camp Team,” introduce in detail! Check out the places you’re interested in.
📸 Outstanding for photos! Camping & Cafe time at a tourist farm
⛺ [Free until Feb 2026] Camp by the seaside! You can play on the tidal flats too
🍂 [Free] Enjoy autumn leaves too! Quiet hiking & camping in the mountains
🛶 Convenient at Roadside Station! You can play in the river and explore ancient tombs
♨️ Refresh in a superb view hot spring & sauna! Popular spot where you can buy souvenirs too
Recommended Gear for Festival Watching & Nearby Camping
You tend to stay long at the “Otawara Festival,” so I’ll introduce items I thought “I wish I brought this!”
Lightweight Compact Chair
Standing all the time is honestly tough. If you have a light chair that fits in a backpack, like Helinox, waiting time is easy.
High-Performance Insulated Bottle
Buying warm things at the festival is nice, but there are lines. If you put hot coffee or tea from home, you can take a break anytime.
Fire-Resistant Blanket
It acts as a windbreaker and a cushion when sitting. It’s super convenient because you can use it for bonfire time at camp at night!
[Camp Food] Enjoy the afterglow of the festival! “Big Bale Style Meat-Wrapped Onigiri”
After enjoying the festival, let’s go back to the campsite and soak in the afterglow!
This time, I’ll teach you a voluminous camp food recipe inspired by that Big Bale!
🍙 Big Bale Style Meat-Wrapped Onigiri (Serves 2)
Ingredients: Rice (1 go), Thinly sliced pork belly (6-8 slices), Yakiniku sauce (appropriate amount), Roasted sesame seeds (a little)
- Make the Bale: Put rice in a bowl, mix a little salt, and make two large “Bale-shaped” rice balls. (Aim for the 1-ton big bale class!?)
- Wrap Meat: Wrap the pork belly around so the rice ball is hidden without gaps. Finally, squeeze tightly to stick the meat.
- Grill: Heat a frying pan or skillet and grill with the end of the wrap facing down. Roll it around and brown the whole thing!
- Season: Wipe off excess oil and pour yakiniku sauce over it to coat. When it smells good, it’s OK!
- Finish: Sprinkle roasted sesame seeds at the end and it’s done! Bite into it boldly!
Let’s get hot in Tamana next autumn!
The power of rolling a 1-ton bale, hot friendship between regions, and delicious ramen.
“Kumamoto Tamana Otawara Festival” was the best event where you can enjoy both history and food, and make a camper’s heart hot!
Please visit together with the surrounding campsites I introduced!
Make a note in your schedule book for next year: “Around November 23rd (Labor Thanksgiving Day), go to Tamana!”
See details on “Otawara Festival” Official HP ▶