The Tsuzureko Shrine Festival dates back over 750 years ago to 1262. At that time, the upper and lower sections of the town began to compete to see who could build the biggest drum. The competition reached an apex in 1989 when one a drum 3.71 meters in diameter was officially recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the world’s largest drum. However, now an even larger drum 3.8 meters in diameter has been built.
The festival itself serves three purposes; to pray for rain, to drive away crop-eating insects, and to pray for an abundant harvest. Groups from both sides of town ride their drums up and down the streets in the hopes that their beating will reverberate up to heaven while vilalgers perform lion dances below.